Going Home - Jo-Ann Carson

Going Home

Etching by W.H. Boucher (click to see link)

They say you can never go home, but I beg to differ.
This weekend I’m going home. “Home”  being a place created by meeting up with my brother and sister. We aren’t normally within a few thousand miles of one another, so it’s truly special when we’re together. We’ll laugh, we’ll talk… we’ll breath in each others presence. That special gut feeling of being with family, that I miss so much, will hit me, overwhelm me, and soften me in a way that nothing else can.
The last time we got together we chose Las Vegas. Woo hoo, did we have fun watching Cirque de Soleil, eating Chinese Food, walking the strip and soaking in the Vegas culture. This time we’re meeting in Hamilton, a small city in Ontario. It will be quieter and there won’t be the bright lights, but the being together part trumps all.  I’ll get a chance to see my nephew and niece and their children as well. I’m excited.
I understand the line, “You can never go home.” It’s like the line, “The river is never the same,” but I think it misses a big point, in fact, the biggest point in life. The home and the river fundamentally don’t change. The love that lives there will always be there. It may look different. I certainly look different. But the essence remains the same.
So what do you think? Can you go home?


0 Replies to “Going Home”

  1. Lovely post, Jo-Ann. For me, it’s more a matter of never leaving home. I carry it with me. It’s something I try to instill in my own children. Every time I see an amazing sunset, or a snowfall, or the raw beauty of a wild storm, my first thought is family. How I would love to share one more of these moments with my parents, or how I need to remember every detail to relate to my sister or brother later. I tell my children to always remember that they represent our family and our home, and every one of their choices and actions are a reflection of the values we hold. Now I’m going to be all nostalgic for the rest of the day and bake a special dessert for dinner.

  2. Jo-Ann,
    My family and I all live close to one another. So I guess you could say we never left home. Our parents have both passed. We are very closely knitted. Your family knows everything about you. All your good and bad times. Unlike friends, they have been there and seen it all. They can drive you crazy, make you laugh and cry at the same time. That bond of love is always there to fall back on.You hit the nail on the head, “the essence is always the same”.
    I love the way you write, I always feel like I’m floating on a soft cloud after I read your posts! Another great one,
    Diane

    1. Diane
      Thank you for your comment which brings wonderful images of hearth and home to mind, and for encouraging me in my writing. I’ve posted your comment beside my computer. You’ve made my day.
      Best Wishes
      Jo-Ann

  3. I’m happy you’re getting to see family, Jo-Ann. My Dad was in the Air Force, and we moved around a lot when I was a child–an only child at that. Grandparents, cousins, aunts & uncles were really important, precisely becuase I didn’t get to see them very often. My daughters, on the other hand, grew up close to my mother who lived in town, and I know that relationship was valued on all parts. Their only cousin lived at quite a distance and they had an aunt and uncle in Dallas, we were all quite close to. We now live 5 minutes from our grands. Sometime after my mother died, I started making trips to the Georgia where her sister and the bulk of my cousins live. Since, we’ve parlayed that into a couple of family reunions including our grown kids and the grands.
    I know everyone doesn’t get along with the “relatives,” but when you do, appreciate what you have. Making the extra effort to keep in touch is more than worth it. Thanks for reminding me how fortunate I am.
    Diane, I loved your delightful description of Jo-Ann’s writing. You nailed it.

    1. Marsha
      You are so lucky to have the grands close. Your family life sounds wonderful.
      All the travelling as a child must help with settings.
      Your kind comments about my writing touch me deeply. Thank you.
      Best wishes
      Jo-Ann

  4. Have awonderful time with your siblings. My sister & I grew up very close to five girl cousins. We spent most of our time together. Life has a way of pulling you apart but now, at around 60 years old, we still revert back to the closeness of those years, not matter how long its been since we’ve gotten together.

  5. I agree with what you said, and I’ll use another quote… “Home is where the heart is”. As long as you are able to get together, that is what counts. I envy you, as I am an only child, but I do have many cousins, and they were like older sisters when I was growing up.

    1. Carmen
      Thanks for coming by and commenting. I think to some degree we make our own family. Your cousins sound special to you. I hope you still spend time together.
      Yes, I agree, “home is where the heart is.”
      Happy writing
      Jo-Ann

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