Feels like home is an appropriate title to this post as Adam and I were back in Cedar Rapids on Saturday to see our mom's (and I was listening to the Norah Jone's album with the same name).
Cedar Rapids is only 2 hours away, so it made for a long day, but we're so fortunate that we're able to get back to see family so easily. Sometimes I think it would be nice to be closer, to celebrate birthdays and have dinner, but I won't complain.
It was a busy day seeing both of our families, but we divided our time and I think were able to spend some quality time with everyone. Our first stop was the Schmidt residence, where Adam always knows he can find a "Schmidt" sandwich (which has my mom's perfect combination of mustard, mayonnaise and love that I can only try to replicate). I will always love walking into my parent's house (I really don't have any claims to it since they moved into it after I graduated from college). I love our home in Des Moines, but when I walk through the front door of 185 Dows Lane I can let my guard down completely and be a kid again in some ways. I always know my mom will have something ready for lunch or dinner or dessert, but it's not just the food. It's the eternal welcome that is there. I know that my parents would drop everything to spend time with us. They appreciate our visits, but there is never any pressure to be there. And even though I've never "lived" in this house, it still has all the familiar comforts of growing up: the couch I can always sprawl out on and take a nap on, the quirky tv remote control that never seems to work, the cupboard in the kitchen where I know I can find a stash of chocolate, the piles of books and magazines on the coffee table (much like my own) where I can snoop into what everyone's reading, and the walking shoes by the door, just waiting for a chance to get out for a walk. These are only minor glimpses of my vision of home, but they are so tangible I can't help but look around our condo (and the ever present pile of shoes by the door, chocolate stashed on top of the fridge, and the couch strewn with pillows and blankets) and see that we are making it feel like our own version of home.
While we were home we also drove by Xavier, my high school. I started there my sophomore year (1998) which was the year it opened (2 Catholic schools in the city merged) and I don't remember the last time I drove out there. It's amazing the rush of memories that hit when we pulled into the parking lot. Some things have changed: there's a new sign at the entrance, the trees are bigger, and there is a new parking lot, and overall it seems a little smaller than I remember. I showed Adam the area I would always park the old blue buick and we looked at the tennis courts and football field. So many good memories. I am so fortunate to have had such a great high school experience. I've always loved school (I'm that girl) but I took it all in while I was there: playing tennis all 4 years, singing in the choir, being in musicals, working on the newspaper, going to football and basketball games, even cheerleading. And who could forget the senior prom, my and Adam's first date. It was a good place, where I made a lot of friends, learned a lot, and probably thought I had things pretty well figured out when I left.
The one thing we didn't do while we were back was drive by the old house on B Ave. While it's still my instinct to turn there when going home, I'm learning the new streets and they are starting to feel like home.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
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2 comments:
Hi Andrea, Amy here. I saw the link to your blog on your granddad's sight! I'm glad I found you. It was fun to see you for a "moment" in Quincy last month and meet Adam. I hope we'll have more moments to visit in the future. I love to read the family's blogs and peek into what's happening. I hope you don't mind.
I also found your link on your grandpa Dave's site. Some good writing here, and keep up the good work!
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