Wordless Wednesday - Hello, Homesickness

August 27th, 2008

My brother, approximately age 7, at my grandparents’ lake-front property. I loved sitting on that swing, wearing those life vests. I’ve been missing them this summer, too, so it’s not surprising that Homesickness has paid me a visit.

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Homesickness, my old friend

August 26th, 2008

Homesickness sneaks up on me. I rarely see it coming. My Homesickness is rarely for a place. The homesickness I feel is for people, for feelings of love and comfort. When we first moved here, I spent months and months with Homesickness as my constant companion. That aching in my soul was my reminder that Homesickness hadn’t yet left me.

It’s not that way now. Now, Homesickness sneaks up on me.

I got an email from my brother this evening catching me up on what’s going on with his family. And he mentioned that my nephew had his braces removed. I didn’t even know Zachary had braces. At all. How can I not know that?

And just like that, Homesickness came to visit me, tightening my throat, welling tears in my eyes, clenching my heart.

We live so very far from my family that I haven’t actually seen my brother and his family in person in more than two years. Eliza was only two and barely speaking when she saw them last. She talked to John on the phone the other day and handed the phone to me after a moment or two, saying, “I don’t think he knows who I am.” John and I laughed about it, and yet, a little piece of my heart broke.

My grandparents and parents and brother and his family all live in the same little town in which I grew up. It’s a sweet town about 1,000 miles away from here. It’s perfectly reasonable that we haven’t made the trip there or that they haven’t made the trip here. We’ve got four grown-up schedules and two kids schedules to coordinate, and that’s rarely workable. But it’s sad.

Don’t get me wrong. I don’t want to live in the same little town as everyone else. And I love living so close to Mike’s family. But sometimes, that’s sad, too.

Mike, Chuck and Stacy all grew up together. They have this wonderful history. Stacy’s family lives close by, and Mike has that long family familiarity with all of them, too. And our kids are all creating those same bonds now, which is an amazingly wonderful thing. But sometimes, I’d like that feeling of history myself.

Mike’s students interviewed him today for beginning interviewing practice, and he said someone asked if he was on an island and could only have one DVD tv show set, what would it be. I picked “Cheers.” Everyone should have a place where everyone knows your name. I commented on Bee’s blog today that I think Southerners have a real affection for nicknames, little tokens of affection that are ties that bind. Griff’s 10, and I called him “Boo” in public today. And he responded to it. I sometimes wish there were people closer to me who had that long-standing connection with me.

My brother and his wife are having a baby. I don’t get to go shopping with Nicole. And Griff doesn’t get to tease Zachary about being a big brother. And they’re picking names without our input. Not that they’d care that they’re naming my precious niece after a character on a stupid Disney show. Not that I care. She’s going to be fabulous, of course. You know, unless she’s a he. And then, he’ll be groovy as heck.

Either way, this long-awaited child is going to grow up not knowing me, much like my children are growing up not knowing my brother. And I adore my brother. Griff and Eliza are missing out by not being able to interact with him. Griff’s so much like John… this tender, sensitive soul. Not much in a rush, gonna do things in his own way and in his own time. But oh, how wonderful are the things he does!

And I didn’t even know his son had braces. I didn’t even know.

Mike’s gonna have to scoot over further in the bed tonight. I’m pretty sure Homesickness is going to be sleeping with me tonight.

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Happy Tuesday News… all around

August 11th, 2008

I’ve got lots of big happies tomorrow! (And one belated happy… oops.) I was going to post this in the morning, but I’ve been off for four days now, and there’s no way I’ll gt up in time to post before work. So a little early, a lot late… here I am.

My friend, Courtney, is celebrating a birthday today. It’s her first as a mother. Isn’t that fabulous? I’m sure little Ally Grace is going to give her mama a wonderful present.

Like so many of the friends I have today, I met Courtney at the college where Mike and I both previously worked. Courtney was one of my student workers, and I am deeply grateful that Linda and I had the opportunity to know and love her… then and now. Happy Birthday, Court!!

(Courtney and little Ally Grace)

And today is also the 13th anniversary of our friends, Aleece and Warren. You know Aleece’s name because she’s my personal webmaster/all-around computer guru. I met Aleece - again, at work… she was a student… yeah, everyone’s younger than me - when she and Warren had just gotten married. Mike and I had just celebrated our first anniversary, so Aleece and I have gone through new marriage and old marriage and babies and jobs and big kids together. And I can’t imagine this journey without her.

(Linda and Aleece at dinner with me during my May Louisiana trip with Griff.)

And, with much shame and embarassment, I must admit that I missed my brother and sister-in-law’s anniversary. Six years they’ve been married, the sweet things. Their son is 11, and they’re expecting a baby in the spring. I can hardly wait!!

I’ve already decided the baby’s a girl. I’m working on a gonna-be-a-big-brother gift for Zachary, and I keep thinking of things to make for my new little niece. I mean, I’ll wait till they’re sure she’s a girl because I’d hate for a little boy to be surrounded by the pink things I’m envisioning.

Regardless, John did himself well when he married Nicole all those years ago. And he did our family well by bringing Nicole and Zachary into our lives. We’re blessed to have them.

(Nicole…looking lovely, as always)

And for general happy news, our dear Mandy got a promotion that she SOOOO deserved. She is now the news editor at the paper she’s reported for since college. She’s an amazing reporter - she’s Mike’s best former student - and she’s going to be an amazing editor. The paper, and the reporters lucky enough to answer to her, are truly fortunate to have her.

Go, Mandy!!

(Josh, Mandy, Olivia, and Griff during our May trip.)

… And yes, for anyone keeping track, I met Courtney, Linda, Aleece, Mandy and Josh at that same school. Mike, too, for that matter. That place and that place in time brought many, many dear people into my life. And I am grateful.

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