17.07.09
Reminders
We’re back again from another trip away from home. These sorts of trips – especially trips back to my home town – remind me of a few things.
- Like that I really am a city girl now. I never EVER thought I would be. But just being away from Sydney now makes me homesick! I still panic at the thought of driving in the city.. and going to unfamiliar places. But I just love the convienence, the variety, the culture, the absolute cityness of Sydney. Small town stuff makes me feel claustrophobic. There’s always ‘talk’ about the latest disaster, death, divorce, terrible baby’s name. A walk down the street will mean bumping into 10 different people you know. Perhaps it’s because I’m wired in a way where I don’t enjoy visiting my past, rehashing old memories and events. I like where I am now. And where I might be in the future.
It kind of makes me wonder what the pull of a country town is. Perhaps I will understand when I’m older and slower. Perhaps I’ll never understand. Yet, people live that life and relish it. They love the familiarity, the closeness, the slow, easygoing, casual pace of almost everything. I know my Dad loves that sometimes he gets paid with a box of fruit, or a favour, or some antique wood out of an old house. My Mum loves the homeishness and being able to run her Bed and Breakfast with both lavishness and precision. My sisters are established with local groups of friends, and one is a passionate visionary, wanting to give the disoriented youth of the town a bit of direction.
We did discuss on the way home how varied Micah’s extended family experience are going to be. This was always going to be the case culturally (and hopefully he won’t have too many identity crises!) but also in the locations our families live. I really do hope that Micah will appreciate the joys of city life and everything we love about it, that he will enjoy the practically-beach-house that Haoran’s parents live in, but also get his hands dirty and discover the country existence and it’s quiet beauty.
- Like the fact that although I love my family and spending time with them.. that, you know… family is family. And you see your family in a totally different light to everyone else in the world. Once upon a time your Dad was the tallest guy in the world and your Grandad was the wittest person ever and your Mum made the awesomest baked dinner. Then as you grow up you realise that they are like everyone else. Not the the best, not the tallest.. but people.. human. My Mum still makes a mean baked dinner though.
It was also kind of interesting to talk with my newly married sister and her husband about family in relation to marriage. How the relationships change, how we pry those apron strings off and make new families for ourselves. It was good to forge that link of sameness, of solidarity.
- Like the joy of being home.
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