From time to time, my mind wanders back to a place that I once called home. As a child, it was a magical place where I roamed the countryside with my band of brothers slaying dragons, winning Super Bowls and dreaming of the day that we would all move away and become famous. Well, in real life, I never did slay any real dragons and I don't wear a Super Bowl ring, but I did move away. Oh, and I'm not famous. Well, at least, not yet.
When my parents were still alive, I actually thought of my hometown as home. Now that they are gone, I don't feel that way anymore. I'm not sure why; I just don't. Truth be told, the town where I currently reside isn't "home" to me either. Without sounding nomadic, the place I call home has nothing to do with the town I live in. Rather, it has more to do with the house we call a home.
Those of you who are familiar with this blog, and my social network postings, already know that our modest parcel this side of Heaven is affectionately referred to as The Kirbarosa. But that's not where I am heading with all of this blogging madness. That being the case, I would like to get back to that place where my mind wanders from time to time.
Recently, we returned to our hometown to visit with my wife's family. It was a quick day trip. We were in and out of town within a seven hour span of time. Normally, we would ride through my old neighborhood and my mind would be flooded with childhood memories of the place I once called home. But this time we didn't take Mr. Bill's Wild Ride down memory lane. Sure, I could chalk up my non-sightseeing tour to the whole day trip scenario but that wouldn't be accurate. Honestly, I had no desire to return to the old neighborhood. That once great town of my childhood is just that. The town of my childhood. I have many wonderful memories, and as I recently wrote, I am blessed with many wonderful friends today from that magical time in my life.
Someone once told me that "home" is the place where you feel you belong. I guess maybe it is just that I don't feel I "belong" back in my hometown. When my parents passed away, my sense of belonging to that place I once called home was gone.
For whatever reason, I've been thinking a lot about my childhood recently. Maybe it's because that was a simple and carefree time of life. The time before adulthood and careers and mortgages. The time when I felt that I could call my hometown "home".
So, here's to you, Cumberland, Maryland. Thanks for providing the backdrop to a wonderful beginning of my life.
Be Well.
Bill
