Country Road take me home, to the place I belong….. John Denver
In April we flew to Oregon and spent 2+ weeks fully immersed in an unusually warm and absolutely glorious Oregon spring. We left piles of Alaska snow and a string of days stretched backward to months spanning a very long, white and cold winter. But in Oregon we could see grass. And it was green! Flowers and trees of all shapes and sizes were in full bloom. The air was warm. We ate ice cream and went to a Timbers game, just like summer. But the Oregon dream came to an end and, though the boys wore shorts, they tied on down coats as we walked through the revolving doors at the Portland International Airport for our flight back to Anchorage.
After the full-blast schedule of people and responsibilities I wondered how the transition back to my quiet Alaskan life would go. I expected the boys to miss their puppy Ginger who lives with my parents since our move. I was not eager to leave the presence of dear friends and family. We were returning to a place that relies on “shipments” for the food and goods that supply our needs and routines. Oregon weather could not have been any more spectacular during our visit and my news from Anchorage was filled with reports of cold, sloppy, late snow gloom.
As we began our descent into Anchorage, Ryan turned bright eyes to me and happily announced: “We’re Home!”
I rejoiced with him. But…. What could he possibly mean? I’ve wondered. And I’ve wrestled. Today I saw this quote, and something came clear:
“Home is where your story begins.” Or maybe home is where you are, where you can arrive, be greeted by a warm smile or maybe a hug, take off your shoes, and feel support. -David Cronin: Homeboy Industries Thought of the Day, May 13, 2013
It doesn’t matter where I take off my shoes. It matters that I can.
Set in place, but rooted in relationship. Home is where I am.