I ran away at the beginning of August. Not from home, but to it. I grew up in a beautiful area of Western Massachusetts, in the Pioneer Valley, and that's where I went. When I was young, I couldn't wait to get away from the town I grew up in... it seemed like such a backwater to a kid who thought she wanted something more from life than what she saw around her. I was so impatient, in fact, that I never took the time to really find out what was there. I can see, now, that I missed a lot. I can see now, too, that my fundamental personality was shaped by living in that area, in that community.
I spent two weeks back in my old home town, not far from the house I grew up in. Not much has changed since I left... it all looks pretty much the same. It's farm country, so there's not a lot of development. No big malls, no expensive stores, no "city" stuff like I am used to now. However, for the first time I can appreciate the peace that I found there. No real rush hour traffic, no constant barrage of city noise (sirens, traffic, airplanes, etc.).....just peace and tranquility. I'm sure that I am romanticizing it some, but for the first time I felt like I really belonged there.
I've lived in the South for going on twenty years now, and have come to deeply love it. In fact, I have been referring to it as "home" for a good while now. However, I realized during my two weeks in my old home town that I have missed New England terribly and never realized it. The smells are what really got me. Just the smell of the air is different. Somehow comforting and familiar....the trees, the grass, everything. I spent a lot of time outside when I was a kid - walking in the woods, climbing trees, playing in the yard. Then, when I got old enough, it was helping with yard work - mowing the lawn, pruning trees and shrubs, working in the barn, even splitting wood. Very "country" kind of stuff, not "city" stuff like I've been living with for most of my time in the South. Not sure why, but I feel a deep need to return to "country" living. As I said, I am probably romanticizing it some, but it's still where I want to be.
That being said, that's what I have been doing and why I have been quiet. I moved back to my old home town on September first. It's going to be hard. My kids still live down south and, while they're grown ups now, I am still adamant about spending birthdays and holidays with them. I've lived away from them for about four years now and have adjusted to seeing them about once a month and hope to be able to continue that. I'll also be going back to school and working, so that is going to be a challenge. Hopefully, they will come and visit me sometimes, too. Weather will be another challenge. I am NOT used to New England winters anymore! Good thing I'm a knitter and weaver, eh?! Which leads me to....
What I am working on now: well, for the extended short term, my weaving stuff (along with the VAST majority of my belongings) is in storage and mostly inaccessible. It wasn't supposed to be that way but that's the way it came off the truck so that's the way it is for now. So, that means that what I am working on now is knitting. Right now, socks in heavy brown alpaca. Not sure about the wisdom of using that particular yarn for socks (here's the link: http://www.yarn.com/webs-knitting-crochet-yarns-fiber-alpaca/webs-knitting-yarns-valley-yarns-deerfield/) - but it sounded good at the time. Probably would be better if I had chosen 100% alpaca, instead of an alpaca/silk blend. It's a lovely yarn to work with, just not sure how it will hold up as socks. I have one finished and it's very nice, and will certainly feel good on the feet, we'll just have to wait and see how it wears over time.
Until later, God bless and be safe!
