Going Home

Just over a week ago, I returned to the town where I grew up to attend a high school reunion.  In the days leading up to the trip, I characterized the event as "I'm going back to my hometown...they're throwing some sort of parade...they want me to ride on a float."  Now, these statements were essentially true but perhaps a bit misleading.  And while I suppose it is also true that I may have spoken in more general terms about parades and grand marshals and small towns honoring their native sons,  I do not believe I ever said that any of these things applied to my situation.  I merely left it to the listener to draw their own conclusions.  In truth, my role in the parade was small and not essential.  If I had not been there, the parade and the float would have gone on without me.

It's been a few years since I graduated from high school.  Actually, it's been a few decades.  After high school, I went off to college but still came home for the first three summers.  After college, I moved out for good.  To say I left and never looked back would be a lie.  I left, but I look back all the time.  My mom still lives in town.  My ancestors settled in the area over 100 years ago.  It is as much a part of who I am as they are.  I think there is something comforting and reassuring in knowing where you come from.  I like having a place and a people I can proudly point to.

The reunion itself is perhaps fodder for another post.  Riding on a float with a handful of former classmates was interesting.  I rode at the back, on the left side.  I needed to be on the left because my mom's house is on that side of the street.  I wouldn't want my familiy to miss seeing me - it meant so much to them, I'm sure.  I don't remember parades having so much candy when I was young.  I think we were one of the few floats that was not spewing goodies for the young ones.  We just waved.  I recognized a few people in the crowd - older versions of familiar faces.  I thought it would feel weird to be literally paraded through town for everyone to see but I found that I was doing just as much staring.  The float was a wonderful vantage point for viewing people.  I would have been happy to ride through one more time so I could have seen the other side of the street.