Change

My tender-hearted brother drove me home to recover from my sinus infection. The jubilant squeals of my energetic nieces greeted me as I entered the door after a tiring ride home from college. My mother accepted my dirty clothes with a loving smile, and my father gave me a teddy-bear hug. Brenna and Bella, my affectionate little nieces, did not know what to think when I would not let them get close to me. Their two and three year old minds just did not understand they could not hug me because I was sick. Little did they know that hearing their tender voices was like chicken soup for my stuffy nose.

While at home, I realized that life would never again be as I knew it before college. Every day I am away from home, I seem to become more grown-up. I will always miss my family and my home. But, with each passing day, I am nearing the point of no return. Never again will I be going home to live. From now on, I am just a visitor. I guess this is a reality that every college student has to face.

When my brother moved to college six years ago, I was a frail little seventh grader. I just did not understand that he was leaving forever. Now I am gone too, and I worry most of all for my parents. With all three of their children grown-up, I wonder how they will cope. They used to spend all of their time and energy going to basketball games and games to watch me cheer. Never will they know how much of a relief it was to always have two devoted supporters in the stands. Now it seems that they are the ones who need rescuing, and the only comfort I can give them now is a phone call.

I spent my Saturday lying on the couch watching chick flicks with Momma, and my brother spent the sunny day on the golf course with Daddy. I realized that there is no better feeling in the world than being in a home where I am loved. That afternoon we all sat around the table for supper. I looked at the chipper faces around me, and I realized that life does not get any better than that. I felt so lucky to have a place like that to go home to when I am sick.

I just do not see how there could be anything as wonderful as the feeling I got when I went home. It was enlightening to see my past and present combined. Going back will always remind me of the memories that seem now like a dreamy cloud. I hope to make many memories in my new home and to never forget that wonderful place that has made me who I am today. I know that there will never be anything more important to me than my family and no better place to visit than my happy childhood home. I look forward to many more trips to my home in the country.