Defining "Home"

Like most people, I don't expect to live in one place my whole life. Even though I call my apartment "home" while I'm in Florida, it does not come close to living up to my "home" standards. I went back to my legitimate home last week, and it was a lovely reminder. It was a reminder of what an amazing foundation I had to jump off of to come here in the first place, of things I have already been through and ways I have learned, and especially of all that I have to look forward to when I come back for real in May. My brother's musical was amazing- he was just spectacular. I've always known the kid was talented, but he just continues to amaze me. I'm pretty sure he's the only person I've ever met who could seriously grow up to do absolutely anything he put his mind to. I also loved being back at Robinson- I've always felt at home in her halls. Robinson reminded me that home means familiarity. Watching my brother perform, though, reminded me of something else. When I was home, my mom and dad took me out to lunch, where they surprised me with my grandparents also being there! My mom's parents- Mormor and Grandpa, are both in their early 80s, and are wonderful, hysterical people who have always been youthful at heart. Watching Will, and spending time with my grandparents reminded me that home is also love. Can home also incorporate change though? If home is familiarity, what happens when a renovation or an addition is needed? Just because there are new aspects to a home, does it lose its essence of being a home? I thought about this a few times while back in Fairfax. Then I realized that I did have a new home. Homes aren't always places, though they often are. While being amongst familiarity and love, I did have a new addition. I usually try to stay away from the gushy to some level, but this one is kind of unavoidable. Kevin came with me to my brother's musical, walked the halls of my high school, and generally just brought insurmountable happiness to my visit. Him being there, although we've been dating just two months (today, actually :) super excited), he is also home. This is because home is not just familiarity and love, although those are both very important facets. Home is resilience. Home is resilient because home is a part of life, and life never stops changing. More than that, home is a necessary companion to living life. As far as what I did when I was home, it was great! Kevin picked me up from the airport, we took a romantic drive in D.C. (aka got lost/took a wrong turn, depending on who tells the story), had fondu dinner with my family at 11 p.m., I got to sleep in!!, had coffee and coffee cake with my mom the next morning as we talked about Chesterton and humility and generally just really good topics that I don't think many daughters and moms talk about, sang at mass at Bellarmine chapel with the best music ministry people EVER!, went to a lovely TNS that included baked ziti, had a doctor's appointment where I found out I have a healthy heart, yay!, went to daily mass, had coffee with my coffee girls, went to lunch with parents and grandparents, went to will's musical, saw some great talent at CCM coffeehouse, hung out with people for a little bit, had breakfast the next morning with boyfriend and parents, packed, and headed for the airport. I didn't stop moving for most of it, and I loved every minute of it! I miss it so much, but at the same time, I'm so happy that I have something so wonderful, something so perfectly and exquisitely "home"-ly to return to in 4 months.