Home Again

I returned home today.

I have been living away from our home in Kingsport, Tennessee since last November (although with frequent visits). As I covered the last fifty miles or so, I felt so, so good.

There's a great old bluegrass song, called "In My Tennessee Mountain Home." I felt just like this...

Sittin' on the front porch on a summer afternoon
In a straight back chair on two legs, leaned against the wall
Watch the kids a-playin' with June bugs on a string
And chase the glowin' fireflies when evening shadows fall.

In my Tennessee mountain home, life is peaceful as a baby's sigh
In my Tennessee mountain home, crickets sing in the fields nearby.

Honeysuckle vine clings to the fence upon the lane
Their fragrance makes the summer wind so sweet
And on a distant hilltop an eagle spreads its wings
And a songbird on a fencepost sings a melody

Walking home from church on Sunday with the one you love
Just laughin', talkin', making future plans
And when the folks aren't looking you might steal a kiss or two
Sittin' in the porch swing holdin' hands.

In my Tennessee mountain home, life is peaceful as a baby's sigh
In my Tennessee mountain home, crickets sing in the fields nearby.

My trip home was unexpected and sudden, and won't be permanent. Heck, arguably this is not even my home; I'm from Chicago. But life has a lot to offer here...

Two weeks ago I was back, and family was at our house. The house resonated with the sounds of children laughing and playing - it was so happy. During a lull my daughter and I went out for fast food. When I got to a local Hardees, I discovered that I only had $2.46 in cash, and they did not take plastic. I prepared to leave without the food. The manager, who had never set eyes on me in my life, put up $1 of her own money to buy my hamburger, and gave me the coke without charge.

There are kind, generous and loving people everywhere. But it seems that so many of them decided to live around here.

I really like that. It's good to be home, even if "home" is where the hat is.