Home Is Where the Heart Is

They say "home is where the heart is." While I think that sounds like a sweet sentiment, it is a little vague. With my travels back East last week, I realized that my heart belongs to many places, each for different and special reasons.

I started off my travels off on a red eye into Raleigh and to my parent's home in Apex, NC. I never lived in this house, so it is a bit peculiar that it would feel like home to me. It is a place where my whole family has gathered, and this time it happened to be Ms. Emmabelle's 3rd birthday. Having my whole family together (minus my hubby, which was a bummer!) is something that I truly cherish the most in my life. It is LOUD and always seems a bit chaotic with four little girls running around each wanting the other's toy, but the sheer volume and activity makes my feel right at home.

From there I headed up to Northern VA. Obviously this place feels like home since I lived there for 26 years of my life...even more so because I stayed with my brother who now owns the home I grew up in. It was nice to be back in the old house, able to walk across the street and into the Aceto's house to chat with Katie, like I've done countless times in the 15 + years we've been friends and neighbors. With my work training in Arlington, I managed to drive by Mike and I's first home together- the little white house on 19th street. While we only lived there one year, it will always have a special place in my heart as our home during our engagement and preparing for our marriage.

Next up was Radford to watch Mike's sister, Katie, graduate. It was so nice to be there with the McDermott family for this special occasion. This was my home for 4 of the most fun years of my life. I was surprised by how sentimental I got while I was there- remembering all of my favorite places during the time I spent there and the amazing people I met along the way- Mike, of course being the most important. I went by all the old spots- my dorm, 1101, the Delta Zeta house and immediately felt how special this home was to me in that time in my life.

I flew home Sunday, exhausted from a long week. I caught a cab and took the familiar ride from the airport, as I've done many time either flying out or picking up/dropping off visitors. As I chatted with the cabbie, we talked about all the things we loved about San Diego- the weather, the people, the variety of things to do, the beaches. It felt so good to be home.

The next night I picked Mike up from the airport. We'd hadn't seen a whole lot of each other in the past two weeks between business trips and travel and it was so great to be back together, just the two of us. While my heart belongs to many places I've called home in my life, I know that as long as Mike is by my side I'll truly feel at home and at ease.

I'm feeling a little sentimental today, if you couldn't tell.....