Almost Heaven,
West Virginia,
Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River.
Life is old there,
Older than the trees,
Misty taste of moonshine blowing on the breeze.
Is that what it says?
Michigan doesn't have a song,
so I borrowed this one from John Denver.
Take me home, country roads, to the place where I belong...
We moved from the lake when I was almost fourteen. I have wondered
over the 42 years since what life would have been like if we'd stayed.
Educated in a small town
Taught the fear of Jesus in a small town
Used to daydream in that small town
Another boring romantic, that's me...
John Cougar Mellencamp
My tiny elementary school, my grandma and grandpa's red barn, the Dairy Queen where our bus stopped on the last day of school, the timeless General Store and the Big Boy restaurant in Port Huron had been there this whole time waiting for me. On moving day I twisted my ankle jumping out of the van and didn't get to go back into the house. I never got to say good-bye, until now. I was like Mater in Cars.
"Bye!"
Somehow I know now it was the right time to leave back then,
just like it was time to return when I did. For a moment.
I'm glad your trip back home was rewarding and satisfying. It's always a bit of a chance when things change so much. This sounds good indeed.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jeanie!
DeleteYou've no idea how your story resonates!
ReplyDeleteOne moment in time. That's enough.
Thank you, Mevely! I was just wondering if it was boring.
DeleteNo, Sandi, Not boring at all. This goes way down inside of me too.
ReplyDeleteSue
Thank you, Sue!!
DeleteI love that song and love your story. Being a Michigan girl makes me like it even more!
ReplyDelete😊
DeleteWhat gorgeous photos! When did you return? I am thinking it was much different than your memory.
ReplyDeleteJust recently. Some things were the same, others different. They remodeled the house quite a bit.
DeleteHi Sandi: So beautiful but so sad you had to move away. Thank-you for sharing with us.
ReplyDeleteCatherine
Thanks, Catherine.
DeleteA beautiful post. AndI feel you're 'missing.' Left Long Island at fifteen and missed the ocean every day when I moved to Ohio.
ReplyDelete😊
DeleteGlad you enjoyed your journey home again. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm still confused. You still live in the southeastern US, right? But you must've just traveled back to Michigan for a visit? I might have missed a few posts along the way. Love the pictures and the songs. Going back home isn't always easy. Things are never quite the same as they were.
ReplyDelete😀 yep! Just a visit.
DeleteGreat poem and great photos! Thank you, Sandi!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Irena!
DeleteWhat a wonderful opportunity to be able to visit your old homeplace, and to take your children to see it too! Good to be able to say a proper good-bye after all of these years! So special!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Cheryl.
DeleteThere's something so very special about home! I loved the pictures and memories you shared. I am glad your trip was very special, and that you have these memories both from the past and now to treasure in your heart!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Marilyn.
DeleteIt's always nice to come home and remember the time spent here, Sandy. Great photos.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Nadezda.
DeleteСэнди, ты взяла камушки с берега озера на память? Я бы обязательно взяла) Вернуться через 42 года? Неужели ничего не изменилось!
ReplyDeleteТы сейчас подвернула лодыжку, во время путешествия?
Я подвернул лодыжку в день нашего переезда в 1983 году.
DeleteДа, у нас есть несколько камней. Их можно брать с собой. Есть даже правило брать меньше 25 фунтов на человека в год. Разве это не странно?
That song always puts a lump in my throat, Sandi. It makes me think of the hills of PA where I grew up. I was lucky enough to hear John Denver sing that back in the 70s. He was a good soul. xo Diana
ReplyDeleteOh! I bet that was incredible.
Deletenice pics Sandi.
ReplyDeleteGod bless you, Brenda.
DeleteAhh, love this post and your telling of going back and the conclusion that it was all in God's sovereignty. His times are always the right times. I was just telling our 6 and 8 year old grands what a blessing it is for them to be growing up in the 'country' instead of a big city.
ReplyDeleteThere is something about wide open spaces. 🩵 Thanks, Ellen.
DeleteSuch a sweet post and I am still singing!! Country life is so good.
ReplyDeleteNice post! Some of John Denver's songs are favorites here! I wish he would have had a midwest song... Country Roads and Rocky Mountain High became the official "State songs" of 2 states.
ReplyDeleteI've always liked that song ... which I'm still singing :)
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
Always enjoyed that song, thanks for the reminder of it. Going home is not always easy. We've moved back to our hometown four years ago to take care of Mom. After being away 30 years, it was difficult to come back. Everything was familiar but very changed.
ReplyDeleteGod is so good. We're happy we came but miss the mountains and the ocean.
Blessings,
Betsy
It looks like a beautiful place to grow up. I liked both of the songs you've referenced. Enjoy your week.
ReplyDeleteSweet memories - lovely song. God bless you.
ReplyDeleteYes...that's the way the song goes (spoken as a true West Virginian :) ) Your pictures are so beautiful, Sandi. Memories and then being able to revisit places from childhood are such gifted treasures God gives us. It made me sad to read that you'd hurt your ankle and wasn't able to say "goodbye" to that special place of your youth when you moved.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures, Sandi, and the memories tugged at my heartstrings.
ReplyDeleteIt also made me sad to read you twisted your ankle and weren't able to go back into the house to say goodbye.
I can relate to the questions, and wondering what life would have been like if... I've wondered that about several milestone events in mine.
Glad you were able to go back to visit and that you were able to find some sense of closure--"Somehow I know now it was the right time to leave back then, just like it was time to return when I did."
Berührender Beitrag.
ReplyDeleteOh Sandi this is such a wonderful blessing to return to a place that must have some wonderful memories. This John Denver's song is one of my favorite and sometimes you will hear me singing it. Hugs!
ReplyDeleteSigh.
ReplyDeleteFeels... I want to add a bit of "hurts"... so good, doesn't it?
Oh the lake...I would miss that the most.
ReplyDelete