Home at Last!

After a crazy few weeks bringing the semester to a close and a long drive -- not to mention that nasty accident -- I was ready to get home for a little while and enjoy some time away from Texas. Don't misunderstand me, I'm slowly learning to appreciate the Texas way of life, but it's still not home. Returning home has brought a few things to light for me.


Some things never change. At home, there is always lots of good food around (although I was disappointed to see ham steaks on the table when I arrived on Sunday -- bleh!). The thermostat will always be a source of contention. It's either warm enough to double as a sauna or you find yourself looking for a parka and hanging slabs of beef. Most importantly, home is always restful.


Some things do change -- like it or not. Since I've moved most of my belongings to Texas, things are not like they used to be when I was at home. Add to this the fact that my older brother and his wife have recently sold their house and are living in the Geriatric Ward while they find a new place and you can imagine how creative things have become. I'm currently reliving scenes from my childhood each night as I sleep on bunk beds. (I'm still waiting to wake in the night, sit up, and clock my head on the metal frame above me.) The Geriatrics have relocated to the middle bedroom (in other words, they have migrated into my part of the house) and we are sharing a bathroom. The bathroom is tiny anyway....and now three of us have our toiletries littering the limited space. Can you say "awkward?" What is probably taking the most time to get used to, however, is the piano situation. I stupidly decided to move my Boston piano to Plainview in the thought that I would do some practicing at home. I think I have probably played it once in the past nine months. After all, I have a wonderful Steinway grand piano in my office all day to work on. When I get home from a day at school, the last thing on my mind is practicing! Now when I return to Arkansas, I get to work on a Story and Clark console that I bought for my nieces several years ago. It's a horrible instrument, but it's something to work on while I'm away from Plainview. Not only do I hate the instrument, but it's location is not ideal either. It's in the family dining room -- located in the middle of the shotgun house with absolutely NO fabric in the room to absorb the sound. You can imagine what practice sessions are like!


Oh well, even though some things have changed and others have not, one very important thing is still consistently true. It's great to be at home again, surrounded by family that love and support me all the time.

We Gather Together....

This morning, my heart is filled with thankfulness. What am I so thankful for, you ask? Let me give you a brief list.....

• a job I love
• colleagues that make me smile
• health
• rest
• happiness

But most of all, I'm thankful for family. As this post is going live, I am high in the air making my way back to Arkansas for a few days of rest as my family gathers to celebrate Thanksgiving together. It's been over 3 months since we have been together -- and that's a lot longer apart than we are used to -- so we're all very anxious to be together again. I'm sure we will laugh about the continuing adventures of the patients in the Geriatric Ward and will make plans for our extended time together next month. Despite the quick trip and the busy pace that is part of Thanksgiving in Arkansas, I am looking forward to spending time shut off from technology and responsibilities for a few days. I'll return on Monday morning with more tales of how things are going as I continue Livin' Life.

Happy Thanksgiving, y'all!

Making a House a Home

In just a few short weeks, I'll begin the process of setting up my new home in Texas. As I've been going through the process of finding a place to live, I've been thinking about what I consider important in a home. Of course, I want a clean place that is in a safe neighborhood. What I've been thinking about are those things that will make an apartment or house feel like home.

At the top of my list is music. I had briefly contemplated leaving my piano in Arkansas to make the move easier. I was simply going to rely on the instrument in my office for all of my practice needs. Then I began to think of the times I just want to relax with the soothing sounds of the piano and the times that my prayers are played rather than spoken. It became clear that my Boston studio piano will be a welcome companion on this journey.

I also need my reading nook to feel at home. I find comfort in being surrounded by the books I treasure and escaping the daily routine with an enthralling novel and a cold soda in hand. The only part of my reading nook that is currently missing is the perfect chair....and I am on a personal odyssey to locate it in the upcoming weeks. (UPDATE....I purchased a chocolate reclining chair since writing this post. The chair will be delivered at the end of the month and I anticipate spending many hours lounging in it with a good book in my hands.)

Lastly, my home has to be filled with memories. I don't tend to surround myself with photos. Instead, I find that I prefer items that spark a memory. Whether I'm lounging under an orange blanket, making dinner using utensils from my childhood home, or admiring a framed puzzle, these cherished items remind me of love and laughter while connecting me to friends and family who are not close by. After all, it's not stuff that makes a house a home; it's the assurance that the place is filled with love.