Wow, Readers. Thanks so much for all the love on the MIL post. I've recovered nicely, and it's in part thanks to your lovely support (and Maggie, you will hear ALL about it on Thursday, do not worry).
It may be quiet around here for the next week or so. Tomorrow morning (er, this morning? past midnight?) Boyfriend and I are headed to the Hoosier state to see my family and friends, and just generally have a little bit of a vacation from life here in the 'burgh before school starts. While I was super glad to leave Indiana when I did, I'm excited to go back. I love Indy ... I just couldn't live there anymore. Make sense to any of you out there?
Anyway, the last two times I've been back have been great, but I've missed one thing: Corn. At Christmas the corn fields were snowed over, and in March there was still no corn towering in the fields along the interstate. But now it is early August, and when I drive home there will be rows and rows of tall corn stalks waiting to greet me. There's something really comforting about that.
Also comforting is the big, sunny sky that awaits me. See, here in the 'burgh, we get a lot of cloudy days because of the rivers. When it's sunny it's gorgeous, but for most of the year it is not sunny. And the hills and buildings block the view of the horizon and the sky, whether it is blue or gray. But Indiana is flat, flat, flat, and the sky is huge. You can see literally for miles as you drive past fields on the interstate. It's very American Pastoral.
When I first moved here, I was homesick for those things. I still am, occasionally, but now the city seems like the most natural way to live. It always has, on some level. But I would be lying if I said that I wasn't excited to see wide open spaces and farms again. From time to time I need to look around me and see nothing for miles but a few farmhouses and lots of corn and soybeans. Sometimes I need to walk down the street in the Circle City. Where people hold open doors and smile and let you into traffic. Where Peyton Manning is a god, and no one wants to hear the damn Steeler theme song.
And that's exactly what I'm gonna do. So, it may be quiet around here. But I promise I'll be back.
Hold down the fort while I'm gone, OK?
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I feel the same way sometimes. I grew up in wine country. Miles and miles of grapes and I ran for a city, any city, as soon as I possibly could. Doesn't mean I don't get nostalgic for the hometown grocery where (cliche moment) everyone knows my name.
ReplyDeleteYou know, I love the country. It makes for a great escape when living in a big city...so I know exactly what you mean. I love driving to MI or IN...the open road, road-side farm stands, and of course the miles of corn fields.
ReplyDeleteHave a great time!
i know we talked about it on IM, but there is nothing wrong with loving home.
ReplyDeletei'm just very adamant that going home to the hometown has to be on one's own terms. not because of failure or family demands, but just like everything else: a true choice.
say heyyyyyyyyy to the corn for me. (does that make it gay corn if i put that many 'y's on it?)