Thursday was our (my daughter and I) travel day home from Cedar City. It was a crazy day that day. We started out at 8:00 in the morning leaving Cedar. We were originally supposed to arrive in Anchorage at 8:10, which put us home before 10:00 pm, but we didn’t arrived at home until the next morning at 2:15 am . That’s not how it was supposed to work out originally, but with delayed flights at both Las Vegas and Seattle, we missed one connection, switched airlines, with more delays, and made it home 4 hours after we thought we would arrive. It was however, a good day to spend with my daughter, and we were safe all along the way, so all in all it worked well, just exhausting.
I am very much a homebody. I get very anxious as trips approach, even if it’s something I really look forward to doing, like visiting family I hadn’t seen in over 2 years. However, once we are on the road, I’m fine. I don’t mind flying and I enjoy wandering around the various airports and little gift shops, although I rarely buy anything, it’s fun to see what each city’s airport has to offer. I also enjoy people watching, and an airport is a great place to see people from all walks of life.
My mom asked me about half way through my visit this time if their home still felt like home. I thought a bit about that, and yes, it still feels like home. But it’s not about the actual house I have decided. Their home has changed over the years. There’s a new kitchen, new furniture, new carpets and the rooms get switched around periodically. Things get painted and the exterior has been resided with vinyl siding and a different color trim. What makes it home is family, particularly my parents. There is comfort and familiarity when they are there. I don’t think it would matter where they lived, and I feel the same comfort when they come to visit me in my home.
I have decided, as the quote above states, home is not a place but a feeling, and to a great extent the people whom we love, regardless of where they reside. My daughter and I had a great vacation. We visited with all my siblings and their spouses, nieces and nephews, and even saw some cousins and friends. I especially enjoyed visiting with my daughter there who is going to college, living at my parents home. We got to spend a lot of time with her and really enjoyed the things we got to do with all of them. You can read about our adventures in the 3 previous posts. I always find it hard to leave, and as my kids get older I find my heart torn between my home, and wherever they are at the time. I want to spend time with each one of them on a more regular basis and once or twice a year just doesn’t seem like enough. However, I am super grateful for the speed with which we can travel these days, and even if we are delayed an extra 4 hours, it’s still much faster than the alternative. I am also grateful for the technology that allows us to call or text, or even video chat any time. That wasn’t an affordable options when I left home.
Home is definitely where the heart is, and I am grateful for the family, immediate and extended, that always make me feel like I’m home no matter where in the world I am.
Stephanie Richey Art 
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