Friday, June 18, 2010

Home

You've all been very patient with me over the past several weeks as my postings have been more and more infrequent.  Please accept my sincere apology!

My only excuse to offer is that I've been a little distracted, as Alan and I have recently learned that we'll be moving once again.

It's all for positive reasons.   Although we've only lived in our current home for a little over a year, Alan's company is transferring him to a much busier area, and one that is highly coveted by his colleagues.  It's near Nashville, TN, where Alan's company's home office is located. The offer was a tremendous testimony to the fantastic job he's doing, and proof of how pleased the "Higher-Ups" are with his work.  As soon as our current home in York, PA sells, we will be packing up and heading back down South.

This is relatively easy for Alan.  One could definitely say that he and his two brothers were exposed to a very nomadic upbringing as children. Because of his Dad's job, they were constantly packing up and moving to the next town, forced to make new friends and adjust to each new school along the way.  I've often said that although it may have been hard on him, the experience has really served Alan well in the long run.  He is incredibly adaptive and makes friends easily, wherever he goes.

I, on the other hand, lived in the same home near Cleveland, Ohio, from the age of six months until I left for college at eighteen.  My brother bought that house from my parents, so I can still visit and recall the wonderful memories created there.  So, you can imagine, I'm not as skilled at the whole "uprooting process" as my dear husband.  I love this house, as well as the birds and critters that visit daily and have helped make it "home."

But as I've packed the boxes and prepared each room for "showing" over the last several weeks, I've realized something else.  Alan is my home.  Wherever he and I are together, that's home.  I know.  It's ridiculously corny, but there it is.  Do you have someone like that in your life?  Someone who grounds you, no matter what the atmosphere may be like around you?  That's Alan for me.

Billy Joel wrote a song that expresses this much better than I. This is an oldie of his, called "You're My Home," and this particular video is from a concert back in 1976.  He's not an awesome performer, and I hate that he NEVER smiles, but my hope is that you'll focus on his lyrics, because they are tremendously lovely.

Here's one of my favorite lines:

"Well, I'll never be a stranger
And I'll never be alone.
Wherever we're together
That's my home."

Gets me every time!!

So, my dear friends, I promise to try harder, but I'm afraid I'll continue to be a tad distracted in the coming weeks.  Please bear with me!  In the meantime, let's watch Billy together and think about the awesome people in our lives that remind us what's really important, OK?  (You may have to click and go to stupid YouTube again, but I promise it's worth the effort!)

43 comments:

Mary Sugar said...

You make me cry! That was so beautiful!

starnes family said...

Great post. I enjoy relocating.....hope it brings you good things!

Charlene said...

I like corny. SMILE

Liz Mays said...

I understand completely how time consuming preparing a house for sale is having just gone through that. Now if it would just SELL, and yours too!!

I wish you happiness as you make this move.

jel said...

I'm not much for moving myself, ya always lose something in the move! :?

heres hoping your house sells fast, and ya have a safe and easy move! :)

blessings

Anonymous said...

My sister moved to that part of the country after many years in Florida and loves it! She said she would never move back. By the way she grew up in the north. I think you will be ok. You are one tough cookie! :)

Elena Gravelle said...

Tennessee...really? Well, at least it's a bit closer to Meeeeee :)

Linda Myers said...

Besides, you're a blogger, so you take a bunch of your friends with you.

Unknown said...

Good luck. Moves can be very exciting! (Although a lot of work1)

ReformingGeek said...

Get to work on your southern accent! ;-)

Good Luck with the move.

BTW, your house is beautiful. You will find another house to make into a home.

Daisymum said...

We miss you too! I just saw today your mail box at T2. It is still there! Wow how exciting to move again, I an't wait to see what you will experiance there!! We just bought property in Georgia near Toccoa Falls!! It will be a nice vacation area. I use to Rock climb up there before I worked at T2. Your house is beautiful Of course. You are blessed to have Alan on your journey in life. I love having Barry experiance our journey together. Well said Joan!

Candace said...

Hi! I'm visiting from Over 40 Bloggers and just became your newest follower. I am looking forward to getting to know you. Have a great weekend! Candace~♥

Sylvia K said...

I have moved so much over my lifetime that I have always just accepted it as the norm, but I know where you're coming from and I do understand. You'll get through it because because Allen is your rock and you already know that without my saying it. We adapt, but it does help to have someone like Alan in your life and you are very blessed! Enjoy your weekend and look forward to a new adventure! That's what life is all about! I always love your posts because you remind me that I've already been over most of the bumps in life and at my age I'm just as happy not to have to deal with too many more!

Sylvia

Anonymous said...

I never moved anywhere until I was sixteen and from then on in have moved regularly - you get used to it after a while... I'm glad you have a guy to call home, he sounds great :)

citymouse said...

I feel the same way about my husband. We could live in a tent and as long as we were together, it would be home. BTW, I bought my parents' house and I think all my siblings were secretly thrilled to still be able to have a connection with this old house. Good luck with the sale and packing.

Kakka said...

I'm like you - I have lived in this house for 33 years this year. It is the first and only house my hubby and I bought. We have thought about moving but love this place because of all the memories. But also like you my hubby is my home, so if he had to move for work, I would follow him to the ends of the earth. Good luck with the move. Can't wait to read about your new abode when you get there. Hugs xxx

Karina said...

I enjoyed reading this post..good luck with your move! I've always told my husband I don't care where we are as long as we are together is what counts. You'll have an adjustment period, different town, new people, new grocery store (!) to learn but I bet you will settle in nicely!

Diminishing Lucy said...

That is such a gorgeous song. It made me cry, it reminds me so much of of my childhood and moving between coutries. My Mummy used to sing that song to us.

Jean said...

Good luck with the move!

seaangel223 said...

Joan, you are so blessed to have a home called Alan! You two will do well where ever you go! Good luck and enjoy the adventure!

Margaret (Peggy or Peg too) said...

Congratulations! One of my favorite posts.

I love moving....well let me rephrase that.
I love that hubby and I have had a nomadic life together. The moving part alwyas sucks.

I get the "you're my home" part as well. I say it all the time. Some cities better for me than others but always fun to learn about the new city before we go and then explore together once we get there.

Enjoy the journey my friend!

Anonymous said...

Well said. I love when you write about Alan. It is refreshing to read about a couple who love and respect each other, no matter what happens. All to often, the most vocal are the ones in unpleasant situations. Here's to you an Alan (and Kathy and Bob, and all who are also blessed with a good marriage.)

Stacie said...

Good luck with packing and moving!!

Unknown said...

You and Alan will always be home together. You guys fit like peanut butter and jelly. :) Praying for you during the upheaval.

Andi said...

I totally agree with the sentiment, while I do love moving around, home is where you make it. Nashville is a fabulous area, you'll love it!

Shan said...

Congratulations to Alan for his promotion. And way to go, You! Knowing what's really important helps get us through the tough stuff.

Anonymous said...

Joan, if I was your neighbor, I'd miss you so so bad! I got teary eyed when you said you were boxing everything up to "show". Can I give you a hug?

I love how you make the best out of everything! Flinging my arms around you... Stay safe. I'll say a prayer that the move goes down well with you. I love that you'll still have "home"!

Velveteen Rabbit said...

I can't read the words to comment :( its grey writing on wood back ground and they are invisible to me.....
But cool pics :)

Looking for Blue Sky said...

Joan, the best of luck with the move. I moved country once and I would hate to make such a major move again now...though a smaller move maybe on the cards

notesfromnadir said...

How fun to move to a new city & state! Think of it as an adventure. It's wonderful that you & Alan have such a close relationship & you'll be happy in York or Nashville, so it's a win-win! You'll also meet new characters to write about. Looking forward to reading more.

suenosdeuomi said...

Your husband looks like a real nice guy. I just hope when it is his time to follow you, because your aspirations lead you in to unexpected twists and turns, your husband will be just as eager to follow you! I knew a middle aged guy who with a very heavy heart gave up his country veterinarian practice to move to a bit bigger town, because his wife had developed ambitions of her own. He told me then, 20 years ago, that it had been his turn to accommodate. I was touched by their give and take. You are blessed to have found your rock. I do not think Billy Joel's lasted. In this economy I sure hope the sale of your home will not take forever. Best wishes to the two of you, to good new beginnings.

lifeshighway said...

Great post. Good luck on your move and getting the house sold quickly. Moving is stressful so be good to each other. I saw Billy Joel in concert years and years ago before he had made it. What a great performer.

Bossy Betty said...

I love that song! I understand how you feel about moving. I am hideously resistant to it too even though I know it brings growth. We'll be thinking of you!

P.S. LOVE the new layout and look of your blog!

BonBon Rose Girls Kristin said...

Congrats to your hubs!! Moving can be tough but so exciting at the same time!!

Katie's Dailies said...

My husband and I are similar to you all: he grew up all over the world, child of the State Department; I grew up in the same house in Kansas, child of an English professor.

Good luck with your move and hope everything goes smoothly for y'all (giving you a little dose of southern hospitality)!

Can be cool and now become a follower? ; )

Jessica said...

I have a large family and we moved about every two years (because mom was pregnant and we needed a bigger house!). It's such a contrast to my husband who only moved once when he was a small child. He had the same classmates from first grade through high school (and even college!). Thankfully, he has a bit of wanderlust and indulges in travel. I don't know if I could ever stay in a single place for more than three-ish years; too much to see.

Susan said...

Hi Joan! I see you are an Ohio girl like me! I've moved around a few times myself, but for the last ten years I've been back in my home state, living near Columbus. I grew up in southern Ohio in the house my great-grandparents built that my brother bought from our parents and has always been and always will be in our family. In fact, we'll be having our family reunion there in a couple of weeks.

It's always nice to meet a fellow Buckeye. I really like your blog and will be visiting you often. Thank you for the lovely comment you left for me at Bear Swamp Reflections.

Susan

Joanna Jenkins said...

What a beautiful post about your husband. Home really is where the heart is as they say.

I grew up on the East side of cleveland and have moved many times in my adult life. It's never easy but moving with the one you love really helps.

Happy packing,
jj

The Urban Cowboy said...

Congratulations and good luck on your next adventure together. Your words and feelings on what a home is are beautiful...you ever hear a cowboy use the word beautiful? We'll keep it to ourselves...

Red Shoes said...

'Southern Accents?' We don't have no steeking 'southern accents' down here!!! :oD

Hmmm... Nashville area... I would really pay attention to what is and isn't considered a 'flood zone'... ;o)

Congratulations!!!

~shoes~

Dana said...

Well...I hate it for you, knowing how you dislike "change"...but selfishly I'm excited because you'll be closer to us! Nashville is only a couple of hours away!! :D

Unknown said...

Hang in there! Moving is a pain but I'm so glad that you have Alan to make things easier on you. I hope someday I'll have someone like that in my life. :o)

Anonymous said...

Like you, we have moved a good deal these past three years of marriage. I think our children might be plotting to get us, but really, they have never had to change schools or friends, so they may simply be spoiled. I, on the other hand, would like to settle for a little while in this new home. There are boxes still stacked, but I feel good here. John, my darling husband, is my home no matter where we are - he always has been, even before I knew him, even before he asked to kiss me that very first time. ~Kelly

unDeniably Domestic

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