Back Home Again in ????

As we ate our Thanksgiving meal, I looked around and my heart was overflowing with love for every person at the table. The great conversation, jokes, and reminiscing perfectly complimented the perfect meal. After eating until we were delirious, we all set off on a walk to make room for pie. We walked around my old neighborhood to the field of my middle school where we played Frisbee, chased Molly around, and savored the gorgeous afternoon while lounging in the cool grass (I miss soft Indiana grass!). Looking around and seeing beautiful homes, open green fields, families strolling the tree-lined streets, all surrounded by a serene quiet—it was so Rockwellesque. It was just so comforting, and I thought to myself that the Midwest is where we belong.

I really don’t want to start thinking about “The Big Move,” because I get an instant tension headache and my blood pressure soars. But every time we go back to Indiana, the desire to move back reemerges even stronger. And at the same time, I was so relieved to get back to Tampa to my home and friends here. I’ve never felt truly at home in two places at once, but I do now. Some days Monte and I talk about putting our house on the market right away, and then other days (like Sunday when I laid out by the pool!), we decide to stay and have kids here. It is just so difficult. Whatever happens, I know that I am extremely fortunate to have friends and loved ones in both places, so that wherever we are—we are home.