Monday, August 23, 2010

Home



On August 23rd, 2002  I was sitting on this ferry traveling across the Atlantic ocean wondering what on earth I was doing with my life. Was I making it better or was I making a royal mess of it?

On August 24th, 2002 I landed on the island of Newfoundland with my husband Lenny, a truck packed with furniture and a car filled with pets. It was a huge leap of faith for us both. We were moving 3,500 kilometers away from most of my family and some of his to a place where he grew up but had not lived in for over 22 years and I had only seen once to attend his fathers funeral.


It felt like we were jumping off a cliff with no parachute.

The first days were filled with trying to unpack an entire home in the matter of a few days because the children (Travis 9, Cassie 7 and Megan almost 5) would be arriving by plane on the 27th.
It became very clear to my very quickly that I was not just in another part of Canada but that it was a whole new world. The food was different, the accents were thick, the stores were far away, everyone seemed to know everyone and I was immediately labeled a "mainlander". (Said like it is a swear word.)
Lenny's 2 sisters were wonderful to us and did their best to welcome us in every way that they could but to say it was an easy transition would be a lie.
Throughout the following 2 years we gradually all settled in to this place we now call home and I will not speak from anyone else but this is my home and I love it.

May I back up a little bit here?
Thank you. :)
My life was filled with moving from place to place and never having any roots set anywhere. Most people can not even imagine what it is like to live like I did until I moved here. I lived in 22 different homes in those 32 years and never stayed anywhere long enough to feel  like I was at home. My family was much the same and still moves from place to place to this day. No one is ever settled.
Some people see my life in a glamorous light and I guess in some ways it was. We always had enough money for everything that we needed, I saw different parts of this wonderful world that some people never have the chance to see, I had the benefit of a wonderful education even though I did it in many different schools. I was exposed to many unique situations both good and bad that have made me in to the person who I am today. I am grateful for all of that.

The one piece of the puzzle that was missing for me was "home". I had many houses but no homes. Moving so much never allowed for the opportunity to have memories of being in that place for years worth of occasions or having friends that lasted longer than a couple of years.

Living in this house for 8 years has been a real blessing. With Lenny's help we have raised our children here and watched them turn from young children in to teenagers and soon to be university bound young adults. They have had years worth of birthdays and Christmas's all in the same house and the same table in the same room with the same people. They may not know it now but this is a huge gift to them and their lives. They have the roots that I never did.
Lenny and I have been blessed to be surrounded by a fantastic family that is an honor to know. They are the true example of what family should be all about and they have made this place home for me in more ways than they know. That can be a blog for another day.
We know our neighbours and many of the people in our town and others. We have been inside our childrens schools many times and not only know our way around but also their teachers and many of their friends.
We planted little saplings when we first moved here and now those same trees are taller than I am (no short jokes required *laugh*). We have even been here long enough to repaint a room. Some of them twice!
We have even had the joy of welcoming other members of Lenny's family back to this area to live and it has been a wonderful experience.
I know which store carries what products and where the best place to eat is. All simple, mundane daily living things that might be boring to others but simply fascinating to me. I LOVE it!

So... even though I never grew up here, none of my biological family lives here and I do not have 40 years of memories here (yet), I am home.
Home Sweet Home

5 comments:

  1. Great blog! I enjoy reading about you and your thoughts and life.

    love Ingrid

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  2. I'm so happy for you and your whole family Heather. I'd consider you a newfie anyday.
    Kelly Vaters.

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  3. I love seeing you in your home! Since I first saw your house it spoke home to me. Not my home, obviously:)) Even though I wouldn't mind calling it that, it's just too lovely.
    Looking forward to learning even more about you!
    Hugs ... all the way from Slovenia.

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  4. I can relate to you, Heather, and I know how it feels. I haven't moved 22 times in my life, but enough to make me feel transitional. With the difference that I still am on the road. So until today I still don't know what and where to call home, considering that recently my father's house has been sold too. But you know what? As long as my family is with me, home is where they are, where we are all together. But I don't give up hopes that one day I'll settle down somewhere. Hugs to you Heather, this is a lovely post!

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  5. You give me great hope that "taking a leap"... and making a huge change can turn out good and happy in the end... not always easy, but happy.
    I've not lived as many place as you... but where ever I have lived, having it be "home" has always been the most important thing to me; be it in a tiny trailer, or the "shell" of a boat far from everyone i knew... Home should be a safe sanctuary where you are surrounded by people/things you love... whether it's a card board box or a mansion.
    So happy that you've found "Home".... :)

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