Leaving Home, Loving Home

Happy Tuesday from Northern Wisconsin, My Friend!

As I write this, it’s been 16 hours, 50 minutes, and 10 seconds since I arrived on the bonnie shores of Lake Superior. The sky is a bit overcast today, but my first 14 hours (give or take) were so perfect, I thought I might have crossed over into heaven during one of my flights on Saturday.

It’s funny: if you had talked to 16-year-old me, I wouldn’t have given such a heavenly description of my hometown. There was no option in my head to stay here. I couldn’t imagine anyone actually wanting to. It’s not like I hated my growing-up years here; I was a pretty happy kid. But spending the rest of my life here was not on my radar. Not when the epitome of perfection and glory was just a few hours down the road in Minneapolis, Minnesota! I couldn’t imagine anyone wanting to live anywhere else. This, in part, was due to fabulous trips to the city and—well—Mary Tyler Moore. If that city could make her so happy that she’d twirl around and throw her hat in the air, why couldn’t it do the same for me?

So move away, I did. First, a move to college in Eau Claire, but never with the intention of returning to live back home someday. Now I was only a couple of hours away from Nirvana, er, Minneapolis. Just a quick sideways journey.

When my family was in Italy a few years ago, we stayed at a little hotel owned by a lovely couple. The hotel had been in Alfredo’s family for four generations. They were so accommodating to our family. One day, while talking to Flora, she remarked that we all seemed to enjoy being together. We told her we only get together a couple of times a year because we live all over the country. Florida, California, Georgia. She was surprised and told us that wasn’t how they did it there. Kids went away to university, but almost always returned home to work and live their lives. As a mom of adult kids, I loved that idea! My kids all in the same city? Please! But I wouldn’t have loved that path as I was leaving high school.

I’m not sure where this urge to move on came from back then. I was never bullied, but I was never one of the cool girls. I had friends, but was never popular. I was never one of the cute girls and never had boyfriends. I always marvel at the posts on Facebook where people long for their high school days, and when asked, “Would you go back?” they say, “Yes!” I can’t imagine wanting to go back to high school. They had to be one of the cool kids.

All this to say, something switched along the way. I did grow up and move to Nirvana-apolis. A cute boy asked me to marry him, and we’ll soon celebrate our 44th wedding anniversary. We have three amazing kids, with three fantastic spouses, and five grandkids. Not to mention three granddogs we love as well. And now, when I come back to this town I was so anxious to leave, I love it here.

Yesterday morning was my first time going for my morning walk. I wanted to kiss every flower, tree, and fern I walked past! There were so many birds singing that my Merlin App was about to blow a gasket! Lake Superior is one of those cool beauties that I never get tired of staring at.

As I walked this morning, it wasn’t as sunny as yesterday, but I was breathing in and loving the smell! Kevin and I always say it smells so good up here. I can’t say exactly what it is, maybe the combination of trees and flowers and perfectly clean air. It smells green, clean, and cool.

Why didn’t I love these things when I was 16?

I guess all of this beauty was too familiar. It was all I knew, and I didn’t realize how special it was. Now I do. Now I treasure my time here.

I wonder if all of this is why I loved learning the story of Peer Gynt by Henrik Ibsen in school. Our music teacher told us the story and played Grieg’s music. I could relate to Peer’s wanting to get out and see the world. Hopefully, I was better behaved than he was (if you know the story), but I must admit, I had my reckless endeavors. But, ultimately, Peer returned home, where he was welcomed by his beloved Solveig. (I won’t say anymore if you want to read it!)

And so here I am in my beloved hometown. I’ll be here for most of the summer, and starting next week, I’ll be spending time with family, so I’m taking a break from writing to you. I’ll be too busy smelling the trees and watching the birds.

I hope you can find time to spend in a place you love, too. I’ll write again on August 4.

Written with love – – – Patti XOXO

“I guess that’s the thing about coming home;

it’s not the home that’s changed,

it’s the person coming back who has.”― Meagan Church