For the past 14 years I have been moving around so much because of school, work and love. Each of the places I have lived has held such a special place in my heart and has helped shape me into the person I am today. For me, my hometown isn't just the place I grew up, but also the place I grew wiser, grew independent and found myself.
I grew up in a small town in Southern Arizona near the Mexican border, and the town where my parents still live today. I left shortly after turning 17 and moved to the "big city" over four hours away for college. I learned to live on my own, join the "real world" before kissing it all goodbye 7 years later to follow my career and become a Southern Belle sort of. Greenville, South Carolina proved to be a much needed culture shock and reality check. The place where I met my now husband before following him across the ocean to France.
I consider them all my hometown for so many reasons.
Small town, Arizona
10. This town will always be filled with memories old friends and memories of childhood.
9. It is the place of homemade Mexican food, warm kitchens and Spanglish.
8. It is the place of Christmas and large family celebrations.
Phoenix, Arizona
7. The place of crazy memories with amazing friends that I now consider family.
6. Christmases in t-shirts and light sweaters.
5. The place I can always visit but will never call home again.
Greenville, South Carolina
4. The place where I learned all about Southern hospitality and slowing down.
3. The place filled with seasons, comfort and warmth.
2. The place I wish to establish roots and call home again one day.
Clermont-Ferrand, France
1. This is the place where my son was born, his only home. The place where we became a family and for the moment, the place where my heart lives.
I'm linking up with Stasha for the very first time this week!
28 comments:
beautiful places indeed. found you from the SITS
Funny how much I identify with so much of what you write. :) I like the way you generously include all those places in your idea of "home"...who says we only have to have one?:)
Just beautiful Barbara. I have learned the same thing as you, home is exactly where your people are.
I do like your take on the word 'hometown' - it's not necessarily where you were born, but where you 'grew up'. And of course, where your heart is.
i absolutely love that last photo of you and your son- and i adore the way you created this list.
Homemade Mexican food and Spanglish sounds like my other home back in Texas :-)
And I think when it comes to us itchy feet expats... home is definitely where the heart is (or where ever we happen to be sleeping at the moment!)
This was really heartwarming, and I so enjoyed traveling with you.
Your hometown looks as wore out my mine does. No wonder we see eye to eye.
m.
p.s. Did you have that baby yet?
So glad I found your blog. I love all things France and am envious that you get to live there. (-:
Your post about your different hometowns was lovely - so good to know you can always go home again, huh?
You have been around the world! I loved traveling down memory lne with you!
This is so beautifully written! It's so true that different homes shaped us, and because of that hold special places in our hearts. I hope you get your wish of a place to settle ~ keep your heart open (as it always seems to be!) and it will all just keep getting better!
We move a lot too so I understand what you need. Even though we have only lived in our current city six months it is my home as it is where my family is.
But each place does hold special memories and feelings- even the three different states each of my kids were born in.
I think it's kinda cool to have so many different "homes". It definitely makes your journey more interesting. :-)
It took me forever to decide which place to write my list about. Like you I lived in very different places and they all feel like home in a way. So nice to see you loved everywhere your life took you. Great photos, so happy!
Loved the tour of your list today!
With all of our moves, home is where we make it!
Home is definitely more than just a place, isn't it? I've moved 3 times and each place holds a different meaning of home for me too.
Your post is similar to mine. I loved that you had little points for all of you main "hometowns." And now you're in France...I'm so jealous!
What unique experiences you have had!
For me, home is where my boys and husband are. :)
I love that you call all of these places home! Home really is wherever you make it:)
I agree, home is where your heart is, whether you were born there or not, whether you'd go back or not. Lovely to see you included all your hometowns each holding a little piece of your heart!
It's nice to have so many places that are a part of your history. I hope that you come back to the States one day but I also hope that your children will love having France as part of their history.
I love this! I have a few places that make me feel like home too. One of them is Disney World!
Such a sweet heartfelt post about the places you've called home. I guess it is true that home is where your heart is.
So glad you joined us this week! My purpose in choosing this topic was to get to know everyone better, and I think it did the trick. I just learned so much about you! Thanks for sharing.
I can really get a sense of who you are from this post. You totally explained why each you consider a hometown, and I found myself nodding in agreement with each!
I like this perspective!
I love what you wrote about each place! I can see why each is so special to you :)
Oh, I really love this!
I've moved around my whole life as well and I've never sat down and really thought about what makes each place I've lived feel like home!
{Kind of a genius idea you have here. Hat tip. :) }
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