Going Home

Thomas Wolfe wrote "You Can't Go Home Again."  When I was younger I found it an interesting comment.  Maybe because I lived near my parents.  But also maybe because we visited my grandmother, and great grandmother in California and everyone was always so welcoming, it was like my mother never left, their homes were open, and they fell into their old routines quickly.

Now that I only manage to make it to my parents home on the rare occasion, and had not been to the reservations in over 13 years.  I understand the sentiment much better.  While walking into my parents home it is still homey and you can breathe a sign as all the old familiar things are still there,yet

many things have changed. 

This is just a small portion of some of the items throughout my family home. A relative once told my mother she had never slept in a museum before when she visited.

I wanted the little boys to see some of the things which I loved when I was growing up.

Trillium Lake which is up on Mt. Hood.  I used to love to swim in any lake or stream I could find.  The boys were skittish since they are used to pool swimming only.

We wandered to the nearby Sandy River for a family get together.  Wading in the cold water was fun.

Visiting Trees of Mystery in the Redwoods, and checking out Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox.  Appreciating nature, and explaining that these trees are ancient giants. 

 Enjoying Multnomah Falls where DH and I were married a couple of years ago.

Climbing rocks and exploring tide pools at the beach.

Visiting the family is bittersweet also.  I feel bad that there is no "family" home for my kids and grand kids since I am divorced.  Not that my home that DH and I share is not a family home, just not the one my children knew growing up.  The boys call the house the DH and I live in home, but the grand kids on the west coast don't know this home. Maybe someday they will come to visit and play.

Spending time with cousins is important though, making "new" friends, and experiencing new things. 

 Laughing and joking with cousins, and wearing some of them out.

Getting home I asked the boys what was their favorite thing about vacation.  Their answer?

Staying at the hotels! 

We are finally home and decompressing, and getting caught up.  Being gone and traveling is fun, but being home is great too.