Homesick
Heck, yeah, I’m a lot of fun this week. I think it’s the approaching holiday, knowing I will not be spending it with relatives beyond my immediate family. Maybe it’s friends I want to be with that I know I won’t see until February, at least. Maybe it’s just that, too. I don’t have plans to travel back to St. Louis until February. That’s three months of being away — the longest stretch since we moved nearly a year ago. Yes, I’m officially homesick, but more than that, peoplesick. I miss my sisters, my parents and my friends. My friend Judy’s dog had to be put to sleep and it will be almost three months before I can give her a consoling hug. By then, she may have a new puppy.
I’ve gotta stop reading so much St. Louis news, I think, but because of my job, I have to stay connected and read what I can. It’s hard, though, and only makes me miss that town all the more. Even stories of power outages, the ice storm and terrible traffic have me sighing and remembering the past.
It’s crazy, I know, and it will pass. I’m just having a tough week, I think.
My friend Jen has started a blog, a great way to stay connected with another St. Louis friend. She and her husband moved to Tucson several months ago and now, are looking for a way back to the midwest. They may end up back in the ‘Lou, or in Ohio. Ohio, as Mark pointed out, would be closer to us. St. Louis would mean a chance to see them when we visit.
Other friends are mid-exodus, making the move with four children from St. Louis to Oklahoma. We’ve all scattered across the U.S. I’m sure I’m not the only one feeling a bit anxious and sad moving into this holiday season.