...First Star I See Tonight...

     After the kids were all tucked in, I snuck outside to try to see some of the meteor shower that is supposed to be happening tonight. Instead I just realized I hate living in this city, and I really wish I still lived in my little old home town. Where the grand total population is 1500 people, but sometimes I think they count people twice, or forget to take off people that have died.

     Anyways, most days, I love living in a city. More jobs, more shopping opportunities, more eating opportunities, 24 hour gas stations, you know, the finer things in life. Then fall comes, and I always get super home sick! I don't know why, but every year, as soon as there is a chill in the night air, I want to go running back home, and it usually takes me a month or two to get out of my funk. Probably because besides my job, there isn't much to keep me here. 

     Sure, Fat Dad's family is here, and he would soooo not join me on my escape. He is frightened of Lanark. He thinks he is the darkest skin toned person to ever set foot within the "city" limits. I try to tell him he's not the first black person a white girl from Lanark has ever dated, but after 11 years, he still refuses to believe me!

     This year, my son got into the school of my dreams, so I have more keeping me here than ever before. I love my small town school, but, like JJ, I was always too smart for my own good. When I was telling my daddy about the school JJ will be going to he curled his lip to something unconventional, and he asked me if I was sure he would be OK there. I assured him he would be better than OK, and then I put it in terms he could understand. I told him how I was the smart kid in class who had to learn at the same pace as the kid who drooled on himself... We are 30, and he still drools! As soon as I said that, my dad smiled, and remembered that I was the daughter who he has always come to for advice, and I could see it set in that he knew I made the right, educated choice. 

     I love my daddy. He is my step dad, but has always been my daddy. When I was going through my teenage angst, he was my voice of reason. It was always the two of us having an intelligent conversation while the rest of our family did I don't even know what in the background. The only time we haven't totally seen eye to eye was Fat Dad. I was so disappointed that he couldn't see past the color of his skin. It took him probably 5 years to see things through my eyes. It took him until his brother died to realize he didn't want to miss any more of my life. It took my cousins saying horrible things about Fat Dad for my daddy to come to my rescue.

     Tonight as I sat outside trying to see any stars in the sky let alone a shower, this is what I was supposed to see... this is what I would have seen in Lanark. I remembered trying to find constellations in the sky when I was younger, and being able to see so many stars there was no way to count them. Tonight, I could count them : ( There might have been 15!!! 

     One of my biggest dreams for our family right now, is to find a house still in the city, but far enough out of town that we can see more than 15 stars! Close enough for pizza delivery, but far enough to see a corn field. I am thankful to have a roof over our heads, and for everything we have inside of this roof, but I would love for my kids to get at least a little version of the way their mom grew up. We take plenty of trips to grandmas where they get to sleep in the house I grew up in, but weekend trips and everyday life are totally different! Every time we talk about going to Grandma Deb's AL says piggy stinky, and crinkles her little nose as if she can smell them already : ) She really is too cute for her own good! 

     Funny part is is when I lived in my small town, for the most part, I hated it! I always wished I lived in a city. Chicago was where I wanted to live. Then California, but I think that one was brought on by a boy I was in love with. That one still has a piece of my soul... not the boy, California...well, maybe the boy too : ) One of my old roommates was from there, and we went to visit her grandma, and I have never felt more at home! The lifestyle fit the stage of life I was in so perfectly. If I went today, it might not feel the same, but then, it was a dream come true. 

     I guess what I'm trying to say is that the grass is always greener, and if I lived in my small town again, I might go outside, and long for my city life. Now that I'm a mom, my home is wherever my family is, and right now, that is here, and I will make the best of it. 

     Where is your dream living location??? Are you a small town girl or a city diva??? Did you get to see the meteor shower??? 

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26 comments:

  1. Hello from Greece, Melissa! I didnt get to see the meteor shower:( ...I was planning to, but I forgot...anyway...I liked your post, I'm a small town girl myself but I have to live in the big city of Athens...I hope one day to move somewhere else, in a place where my kids can play outside and ride their bikes without the fear of being run over...till then,we're stuck here:(
    see you soon, I'm your newest follower ;)

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    1. Glad to have you Mireille : ) Greece is on my dream cities to visit list! So many neat little pieces of history there to take your kids to see! I usually forget these meteor showers, too, so I was extra upset last night that I actually remembered, but then couldn't see it : ( My sister still lives on the farm, and I am more than a little jealous of the freedom her kids have! At least I will have good company, and we can be stuck together : ) Thanks for stopping by!

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  2. The drooling boy cracks me up! Yes I know him also, some things never change :) I also remeber living Lanark and thinking..I hate this town, there is no way I'm going to live here. I now find myself trying to get back to a small town with nothing to do to raise our children. Its amazing how your life perspective can change.

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    1. Isn't it though, Megan! I never thought there would be a day I would actually want to move back to Lanark! The school I found for the kids only goes through Jr. High so EHS is still a possibility. My dad also cracked up when I mentioned the drooling boy : ) He had to tell me how well off the drooling boy is doing, and I quickly pointed out because he inherited it all, not because of his genius : )

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    2. Yes a lot of people tend to have gotten ahead that way! Just think I'm sure we could of been ahead with him right now! LOL!!

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    3. I've never been so happy to be a little behind : )

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  3. Growing up I dreamed of living the city. I was a country mouse so to speak... and guess what? After a few years of surburbia we moved out to the country. 20 minutes to the closest store, no pizza delivery... just cows and pigs and chickens out here... and that's ok by me, although I wish I was back in PA instead of VA... cooler up there. But like you... this is where my family is so this is where we'll stay- for now. As for the meteor shower... I forgot... fell asleep and drooled all over my pillow ;)

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    1. I almost always forget ans was so proud of myself that I actually remembered this year, and then I couldn't even see it : ( Family makes a big difference, especially when there are kids involved. We are so blessed here, my boyfriends grandma lives 2 minutes away from us, and has watched our kids for us for free!!! I have never had to worry about daycare, and for that reason alone, we will stay right where we are : )

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  4. I was so excited about the meteor shower too. I was actually sitting outside with a few friends as the kids played. It was such a beautiful night last night and we just had to take advantage of it. I live in 30 miles form St. Louis in a suburb. Sounds silly, but I totally forgot about the meteor shower with all the excitement of the kids and chats with my friends. Sorry you missed it too.

    Following you from the blog hop. Hope you can stop by and follow back.

    Julie from Stlavolady - a cat, a girl, a man and me!

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    1. At least you had a good reason to miss it! I didn't even have an adult beverage in the house to drown my sorrows : ) Up here there was a little bit of a chill in the air, and that was the highlight of my night! I am so very ready for fall to come this year, and if I could have seen the show, I might have grabbed a hoodie!

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  5. I am so exciting to have found you at Mom's Mingle. I am definitely a country girl. I like wide open spaces. I am a new follower. Hope to see you at True Aim!

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    1. So excited to have you here! Country girls got to stick together : ) Headed over to see you now : )

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  6. I'm still hoping to find my dream location but I like to live in the quiet but not be more than a few minutes drive from the action. I'm newly following from the hop. I'd love a visit when you can. Have a great week.

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    1. Kind of like having your cake and eating it too right : ) Love the best of both worlds! Thanks for following! It's Tuesday, and I'm just getting around to the Monday Mingle, but I usually am a day late and at least a dollar short : )

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  7. Grew up on the East Coast and now living in the Midwest. After 20 years I'm still hoping I'll adjust. I love that I can live in one place and visit family in the other, I'm connected to both.
    Jumped over here from the Blog Hop. Followed you so I'm looking forward to reading more of your posts.

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    1. I've been in the Midwest my whole life, and while I've dreamed of leaving, my roots are here, and now that I'm older, that means a lot! Thanks for coming by Karen : )

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  8. Following from Mom's Monday Mingle!

    Nice to "meet" you

    Please stop by & say Hello, if you haven't already. (And follow back)

    Kristina

    http://www.yomichaelmichael.com

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    1. Nice to "meet" you to Kristina : )I love "meeting" new bloggers! I work in a job where I am meeting people in the physical sense all day everyday, and I'd take my bloggers over them any day : ) I'm making all my Mingle rounds a little late, but I'm on my way to you now!

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  9. would do anything to live in a remote town like that. The city is wild!

    Have a great week ahead! Stop by nichollvincent.blogspot.com and say hello!

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    1. The sense of peace that I get when I go home is amazing. When I was younger, I found that peace boring, but now that my life is so chaotic, I want it more and more : ) Thanks for stopping by Nicholl, I'm headed you way now!

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  10. found u thru the naptime review moms monday mingle and follow thru GFC now!

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  11. After going from city, to country, to city, back to country, I could never move back into a city again. I love the peace and quiet, hearing the birds chirp, and seeing the stars. Love this post and thank you for linking up with me again this week!

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    1. At least I can escape to my mama's whenever I need to get away! The thing I hate the most is the lack of privacy! Going from having your closest neighbor be a half a mile away to sharing a yard with someone really hard to get used to : ) Thanks for hosting such a wonderful hop! I will see you again on Friday : )

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  12. Love the blog. New follower from the TGIF hop. Stop by and say hello. http://www.thesexysinglemommy.com

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  13. Oh, I know how you feel! Except, in my situation it is a bit reversed. I am from the city and now live in a small town. I think no matter where you go, where you are from is always going to feel like home. I don't know what it is about Fall, but that is when my home sick sets in. And it's totally true, the grass is always greener! The funny thing is, I'm not sure I would fit-in in the city anymore. I've become so used to small town living that I'm not sure I could keep up with the hustle and bustle!

    Found you on the TGIF Blog Hop. Looking forward to reading more of your posts. :)
    www.thatsuburbanmomma.com

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    1. I always long to go back home, but it's true, when I'm there, I don't feel like I fit in anymore : ) Thanks for stopping by!

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