Going home.
The phrase can bring a variety of responses and emotions. When I’m looking for a new book to read, I’m often surprised at the number of novels written on the premise of returning home. The story may involve the death of a family member who wills a house or a business to the main character. Or maybe the protagonist returns for a reunion of some sort. Other times, s/he is simply out of options and has no other place to turn.
Recently I spent a week visiting many of the familiar places I once called home. For me, it’s a pleasant experience that involves reconnecting with my brothers and sisters in the upper Midwest. After enduring a couple months of Texas heat, I look forward to the cool summer nights and the comfortable daytime temperatures. I can’t wait to breathe in the distinct scent of the wind blowing off “our” lake, to feel the softness of the grass beneath my bare feet without worrying about fire ants, to listen for the unique accent in my siblings’ speech, and to relax in the comforting relationships of the people who’ve known me longer than anyone. And still love me!
What about you? If you live some distance from where you grew up, do you enjoy going back? If so, what do you look forward to? If not, what makes it unpleasant?
Do you enjoy reading novels about characters who return to their childhood homes to uncover a mystery, heal broken relationships or to discover something about themselves? Leave a comment and let’s chat about it.
