Homer is Home

This past week my parents moved out of the house they have lived in since 1976.   My parents house was my home for 13 years and for the last 26 years it has been my home away from home. I have 39 years of memories that I will have forever. The house now belongs to someone else and they will begin to build their family and their own memories.

The taller pine tree in the picture was planted by me the year we moved in. It has grown a lot over the years as have I. As I looked at that tree a month ago I started thinking about the storms it has weathered, how deep its root system is. I thought about how long will it continue to grow. Someday it will die or someone will cut it down because they don't want to mow around it anymore. It made me think that my family has deep roots in Homer and that we have weathered storms there as well.

Its somewhat bitter sweet I am happy for my parents that they were able to sell their home and move to a place that will be easier for them. its not the house that I am feeling sad about its more the village of Homer. My parents are leaving a community that they have been a part of for 50 years. Homer is the only home I have know before moving off to start my own family. I know for my parents its got to be difficult they are leaving their church, friends, social clubs.

I have a lot of traditions in my life. My parents leaving Homer is difficult for me. I will miss seeing Homer Is Home on the water tower as I drive to see my parents. I will miss a trip around the Greg Barton Circle. I will miss the tradition of Cascarelli's Pizza a must almost every time I am home. I will miss the First Presbyterian Church of Homer where I dropped marbles on the hardwood floor during church, made my commitment to Jesus Christ, received my Eagle Scout, and married my wife. I will miss the early morning views of Homer Lake and seeing friends, classmates and teachers that have helped make me who I am today. Homer will always be my hometown it will always be a part of all my childhood memories. I will need to start some new traditions that one day my kids will look back and talk about. Life will go on, the pine tree will continue to grow, and for me Homer will always be Home.