Home is where the heart is!

Our last child moved out yesterday - to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, to be exact.  While we are excited about this new opportunity for him, it certainly arrived with some tears (on my part, anyway!).  Not because he will be far away - I guess I'm used to that since my children have always traveled world-wide.  The tears this time came because when he does return "home", it won't be to the only house he's every known.  Certainly by the time he can return to the states in Spring of 2012, we will have moved lock, stock and barrel to start our new life in Juneau, Alaska.  I told him that I was far from my "growing up house" when it emptied, when my mom and step-dad moved to a new home closer to town (is that an "up north" thing, calling the city you live near/in "town"?).  A physical house can certainly evoke memories - I know exactly where things are even in the middle of the night with the lights off.  I can open a drawer and find the can opener without looking.  I even know which board on the deck to avoid so I don't stub my toe. But I think that memories of a "house" are more poignant because they transcend the physical "brick and mortar" since they include memories shared with family.   Greg will remember where the Christmas tree was placed to just fit in the window, how Marshall would hang his head on the arm of the love seat to look at passing cars and the view of the house across the street from his bedroom window.  We all will remember the physical house that has been ours for over 30 years.  However, home is different - it is in our hearts, in the laughter and good times we remember with family and friends and, while he may not return to 4142 South 43rd Street again, he will ALWAYS have a place to call home.  It will be where ever his family gathers, be it a condo in Juneau, Josh's beautiful house in Louisville or a place to be named later - can't wait until we can say "Welcome home, Greg"!!