Friday, 17 July 2009
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Can You Go Home Again?
I am headed to Austin, Texas this weekend, a city where my grandparents used to live (both have passed away) and a place I remember visiting frequently as a child. I am curious to see what has become of this city that I loved so much as a kid.
I plan on going by the house where my grandparents used to live and also try to visit some of the spots we used to visit when we were there, like this great park near the local high school and a creek where we went swimming. I think it would also be so interesting for me, being a military brat, to revisit all of my old "homes," from Texas to New Jersey to Ohio and Hawaii. I am curious to see how they have changed and if they still bear any semblance to the memories I hold.
Do you still live in your home town? Have you ever revisited a childhood home or favorite vacation spot? How has it changed? Did it live up to your expectations?
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Comments (10)
I don't live in my hometown, but live pretty close to it! I do visit my hometown a lot because my doctor is there, so ya =D & plus i love the piece and quiet in the suburbs, rather than the noise and crowds in the city that i live in.
I was born and raised in Houston, Texas. I am currently in College Station, Texas though for school (Texas A&M) and will probably move elsewhere after college, but Houston and Texas will always be my home.
I have moved a lot though in my lifetime, just all around Houston (and surrounding "suburbs"). I have gone to visit the house I spent the most time in (a friend still lives next door!). The house looks different, even from the outside. They re-landscaped the front yard and changed the fence. I have never gone inside. I wouldn't want to though, honestly. My friend did tell me that they changed the inside a lot! New paint, new floors, etc. They even filled in the fire place! What? Why would ANYONE want to do that? Fireplaces are awesome. Oh well. :P
I do like to visit old childhood "hangouts". Like the park we used to go to all the time, etc. Even though I live very close. It's still fun.
Have fun in Austin. Depending on how long ago you're talking, it's probably a lot more built up than you remember!
I'd do anything to go back home. :/
Austin rocks! I came here for college and haven't left because, well, it's hard to leave one's heart.
That being said, I'm no stranger to moving... It's been over 20 times in the last 24 years.
It's ridiculous how much things can change. It's been three years since I moved away from my home town and every time I go back I discover that some old haunt has been renovated or removed. The first time I went back after moving away I forgot how to get to the major city from my home town. I had to drive around for a while before finally finding a familiar street. I think my new mental maps were trying to replace the old.
i think i can always go home but i don't want to right now. there's just too much sad memories there. every time i go there, i'm reminded of my father and my uncle. they both died at the age of 29 and 31 and they're both buried next to each other. after my dad died, my uncle was basically a father to me and my siblings, and after my uncle died, i felt like my whole world came crumbling down. only though he's 8 or 9 years older than me, my uncle was always a father figure to me. one day, i'll return but only when the time is right.
@landlockedeyes - same here.
i'm about 6000 miles away from home right now...won't be going back for awhile :/
wow good question...as much as I would like my home to be the same it can never be...times were different then and the people who made it home are gone or grown and they too are different...location alone does not make it home I suppose.
@Gentemann@xanga - I agree. People and places change. But memories are forever.
I will go by the ole saying: Home is where the heart is.
My family, those that I am still close with are home. I have several homes - in Michigan and in California. I was in the Marine Corps, so any military bases are 'home' to me.
When I visit my family in Michigan, my Dad loves to take me on trips of the 'old neighborhoods'. As long as there are no expectations - there are no regrets. My old elementary school was leveled. But we don't expect those to last, right?
Not at one time. My parents kept me in a hospital mental ward against my will for anorexia. And then they send me to a shelter and then they tried but wanted to put me in the state mental hospital. IT WAS A VERY SCARY TIME. Having no place to go and my parents didn't want me.