Friday, June 22, 2007

Far Far Away

Do you ever get homesick for places you've been in your life? Like the other day I was stepping out of the subway and smelled the yummy sweets baking at the nearby Hot & Crusty (NY bagel chain) and thought, "that smells like the air in Paris, and I miss Paris!" I have been to Paris twice but it is not like I have spent enough time there to really miss it, but I do!





There are a lot of places I find myself getting homesick for. Newport Beach tops the list right now. I have been there more times than I could probably count and I would probably say it is one of my favorite places in the world. I have so many great memories, riding bike or Rollerblading on the boardwalk, shopping at Fashion island, getting seaside donuts when they are fresh at midnight, getting frozen bananas on Balboa after riding the ferry, and if we are lucky, getting to see bio luminescent waves at night


(If you never seen it, it is amazing how the bacteria in the water makes the ocean glow, I got this pic off the internet, but doesn't it look like Rob Theurer?)



I also find myself getting homesick for another place I love, Florence. In college I spent a semester abroad in Firenze and I can't tell you how often I find myself wishing I was there. It is such a romantic and magical and historical place and strikingly beautiful. I was able to spend almost six months there, although you wouldn't know it by my Italian speaking skills, and it is one of my favorite places on this earth. Part of my time there was spent taking some amazing art history courses that took me all around the museums and monuments. I kept detailed notes thinking how one day I would bring my kids back there and tell them all about the amazing art and history of Firenze, well I don't know where those notes have ended up, and I certainly don't remember a lot of what I learned, but I still ache to go back there, hopefully sometime soon!





After we got married and I moved back to Utah while Dan and I finished school, I remember aching for New York! I missed it so much, the culture, the food, the museums, the shopping, I missed just the feeling you get being in New York and being part of New York, which is something you can only really experience living here, something that Dan has also come to appreciate in the six months since we moved back together.




This will sound so random, but I have also had moments where I am homesick for high school. Maybe it is just being at a point where we are accumulating so much responsibility and seriousness in our life, but I'll be honest, sometimes I do miss high school. I really loved my time at Highland and I feel like that was a time in my life where I was really making the best of myself, sure there were things about it that were hard, but I feel like in high school, lots of things made sense. I met so many amazing people through all the activities i was involved in and I really felt like I learned a lot about myself, being who I am.






Occasionally I find myself homesick for Utah, mostly for the mountains. I never really appreciated the Wasatch mountains, or the beauty of the Utah outdoors until I lived away, now I find my self in moments where I just feel like I need to be in the mountains, which is not really an option in the middle of the concrete jungle of NY City! I guess next time I am in Utah I'll have to go on a hike! Anyway, the point of this post is just to say, it is funny how places become part of you, your identity, and how you see the world, and if you have a time, leave a comment about a place that has been important to you.

6 comments:

Julia said...

What a great post. I can completely understand feeling homesick for places you have been, even if only briefly. Eric and I went to Europe a few months ago, and I fell in love with Austria. I am completely homesick for the Alps, the culture, and the people. I would love to go back and spend a few months in Insbruck-- maybe we will be able to do a rotation there...

I also get homesick for Jackson Hole, I spent an awesome summer there. I hate to admit this, but I get a little homesick for Provo, I think I feel a little bit the same way about college that you did about high school. I really didn't like my high school experience (and no, it's not just because I went to East), but I feel like I became myself, and made my best friends in college.

But New York is by far my favorite place in the entire world. I was really scared that we might not end up staying here after school, but fortunately we get to stay for at least 7 more years (and live in a great new neighborhood).

Sorry for the novel, but you really got me thinking.

Laura said...

Caitlin...what a great post! I love hearing about the different places that have meant something to you. I have only been to Paris once but there is something about Paris that I miss too. There is just a feeling there that I have never felt before. But the place that I miss the most is Jerusalem. There are times when I wish I was there staring at the city and studying the scriptures. I miss the walks up the hill to the city and sitting in Gethsamne just pondering and the feeling of peace at the Garden Tomb. I miss the smells of people, the air and the food!!! Jerusalem holds a special place for me and I miss it often. I would love to live there someday or go back!! Who knows if that will ever happen. The only other place I miss is Lake Powell!! I love Lake Powell. I love waking up in the morning jumping in the cold water and water-skiing. I love the GORGEOUS sunsets at night. I love not knowing the time and not having anything to do but play!!! Hopefully I will get there this summer. Anyways, thanks for letting me think of all the great places I have been.

Bridget said...

Wow. I also share a love of Paris, Florence and occasionally Utah. I went to BYU and am so nostalgic for those Wasatch mtns. Great post.

Kate said...

Fun to hear about the places you miss and the memories... I miss my mission... Argentina- the food, the people, teaching the gospel... etc...etc... I do miss where I grew up when I go there. I kind of forget about it when I am into everyday life. I don't miss highschool at all.. but I miss college! Those were some great days... and our early years of marriage in California. I miss when my kids were babies.. I wish once in awhile- they could be the age you want them to be- if only for a moment.

Jill said...

This has been one of my favorite quotes ever since I read it on my high school English teacher's wall:

Every dreamer knows that it is entirely possible to be homesick for a place you've never been to, perhaps more homesick than for familiar ground.
-- Judith Thurman

I get that feeling for places I have never been! Italy being being the big one. :) Great post.

Kristy Stoner said...

I miss NY. Nothing else. I never thought I'd like it as much as I do. I only spent a year there and I will crave it forever.