Being away from home is never easy. At least that has been my experience, I do try my best to enjoy the many positives we have at our new location. Nonetheless, it gets hard sometimes. Just plain hard. And, in these difficult moments there are times when I don't want to find the positives in my situation, I truthfully just want to sulk for a bit.
Sorry: adult me doesn't want to be positive today. I will try harder tomorrow!!
This past week was a particularly difficult week to be away for home. In the small town I grew up in, yes the one I once longed to move away from, there is an annual golf tournament, I long to be back for, called the Northern. The Northern is a big deal to many people up there and our family is no exception. My dad is the superintendent at the golf course so it is always a busy time of the year for him both in his professional life and his personal life. My dad loves his job and he loves golf...like he LOVES golf! I do not know if I ever had an interest in something, especially a sport, like my dad does for golf. So, he obviously plays in this tournament each year, as well as, works through it. And, the really great thing is even though he is exhausted, he still loves it. For me, watching this exhausting love affair with golf has always been fascinating: inspiring in many ways; perplexing in others.
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| Photo courtesy of Cheboygan Golf and Country Club Facebook page |
Actually, most of my family golfs and many of the men come up and golf in the Northern each year. So, as a kid the week of the Northern usually meant I got to see all my uncles, aunts, and cousins from various parts of Michigan and Tennessee. We would all congregate at my grandparent's house, that somehow was perfectly located, no matter where you were coming or going from. I loved my grandparent's house. When I was old enough to drive, my favorite thing to do, was to stop by my Grandparent's house unexpectedly. The door was never locked, but they had a sliding wooden door separating the small entry way and kitchen. I will never forget the sound that door made and the look on both of their faces as you'd round the kitchen wall into the the dining room. "LIZZY, how the heck are you?" followed by huge smiles and hugs is usually the greeting I would get. And, most of my life I lived 15 minutes away, but they would greet me like that almost every time I came to visit.
It was special.
In fact, you could be at the house for 30 minutes sometimes and 3-4 more visitors would stop by in the exact same fashion. Sitting at the kitchen table, hearing that wooden slider open is seriously one of my fondest memories. And it was exciting no matter who it was: my mom and dad stopping by after work, my brothers checking in on everyone, an uncle I had not seen for awhile, a friend of the families....it could have been anyone. I hope someday my house becomes a home like that. I truthfully didn't know you could love a house so much until after my grandpa had passed away and my grandma moved downstate. That house being sold and with it so many other changes always stirs up all kinds of feelings of loss and longing for days past...
Okay, I am getting off topic...bear with me, I write like I think:
Anyway, having the entire family up was always an all around good time in my experience:
Fun: yes.
Entertaining: definitely.
Drama filled: usually (that was half the fun).
It was always beautifully chaotic.
At any given moment you'd see card games being played, naps being had, food being prepared, children running around, people laughing...sometimes yelling...but, everyone together.
I miss that.
I also miss watching my dad and mom go out each night and change the cups together for the next days tee times. If we were really lucky we got to ride along and help, it felt like a family tradition. Caddying for various family members on Sunday became a bit of a tradition as well. And whether or not you played, caddied, or were just a spectator you could bet that on Sunday afternoon you were at the course enjoying the festivities and cheering on your favorite golfers who were coming in on the perfectly placed 18th hole.
The memories are really flooding in now!
Back to being a kid growing up with access to the golf course there was nothing better then riding around in a golf cart...I mean unless you got to drive of course. My son got the opportunity to help when he was 2 years old, and yes that meant driving the cart! I cannot begin to express what that meant to me. To be lucky enough to have a close relationship with your family members is a blessing I truly wish everyone got to experience. I understand how rare these moments can be in this world and if you are lucky enough to experience them, treasure them.
Hold tight to them and refuse to see them as mundane and ordinary!!!!
I think I could continue to write this post for days and days, but friends I think I just wrote exactly what I needed to say and more importantly needed to hear. Writing can be so therapeutic like that, even when you ramble on and use to many commas and exclamation points...my English teachers would be so ashamed.
Yet, here I am feeling completely satisfied by my rambling and hoping, no praying, I helped anyone else with their hard time too. If you are having a difficult day and you just cannot find the positive let your mind wonder. Feel the sadness in your day and remember a better time, remember it to its fullest. Cry about it, but more importantly smile about it too. Hold tight to your good memories and see them as extraordinary, maybe tomorrow will be the day you make more or maybe it will take a little longer.
Hold on either way friend.
At any given moment you'd see card games being played, naps being had, food being prepared, children running around, people laughing...sometimes yelling...but, everyone together.
I miss that.
I also miss watching my dad and mom go out each night and change the cups together for the next days tee times. If we were really lucky we got to ride along and help, it felt like a family tradition. Caddying for various family members on Sunday became a bit of a tradition as well. And whether or not you played, caddied, or were just a spectator you could bet that on Sunday afternoon you were at the course enjoying the festivities and cheering on your favorite golfers who were coming in on the perfectly placed 18th hole.
The memories are really flooding in now!
Back to being a kid growing up with access to the golf course there was nothing better then riding around in a golf cart...I mean unless you got to drive of course. My son got the opportunity to help when he was 2 years old, and yes that meant driving the cart! I cannot begin to express what that meant to me. To be lucky enough to have a close relationship with your family members is a blessing I truly wish everyone got to experience. I understand how rare these moments can be in this world and if you are lucky enough to experience them, treasure them.
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| C-man helping Pop-pop change cups @ CGCC |
I think I could continue to write this post for days and days, but friends I think I just wrote exactly what I needed to say and more importantly needed to hear. Writing can be so therapeutic like that, even when you ramble on and use to many commas and exclamation points...my English teachers would be so ashamed.
Yet, here I am feeling completely satisfied by my rambling and hoping, no praying, I helped anyone else with their hard time too. If you are having a difficult day and you just cannot find the positive let your mind wonder. Feel the sadness in your day and remember a better time, remember it to its fullest. Cry about it, but more importantly smile about it too. Hold tight to your good memories and see them as extraordinary, maybe tomorrow will be the day you make more or maybe it will take a little longer.
Hold on either way friend.
