Iowa
Posted October 17th, 2004 by MichelleIf I had to go home tomorrow, I’d say that I’d had one of the best vacations of my life. But I don’t go home tomorrow… I get a whole nother week.
I took a run today through Iowa City, through real fall, complete with colorful leaves to kick and dogs to pet and college kids in sweatshirts. I got the immense pleasure of hanging with the whole Iowa Williams clan, the day before Lucas’ sweet 16th birthday. Sean Patrick had to leave early to go do his work for the Democratic party, but Kent and I wandered the Co-op and bought veggies to make a curry. Melissa found me the best coat ever at her shop. It’s so peacefully wonderful.
I spent yesterday evening with the entire family of my life-long best friend, and it was extraordinary. Her father has not changed, not even the smallest bit, since I was a kid in a sleeping bag next to my best friend on the living room floor, or cajoling for a space in front of the box fan on unbearably hot summer nights. Her father was always there, telling us stories, making us laugh. Her mother was always there, too, and I blame my desperate love of boxed mac ‘n cheese on the comfort of her mother’s table- the very same table where last night I carved a pumpkin. My best friend’s house is the only one that recalls my childhood. We moved too often, and left behind too many friendships, to call any other former house a childhood home. But her house, and her siblings, and her parents, and all the cats, and the table, and the enormous fruit tree planted the year she was born all stand as reminders, as desperately needed proof that I indeed did have a childhood, no matter how short. Last night her mom asked if it was strange to be there; I told her truthfully that it was not. There was nothing strange about it. That house is still a home to me, and I’m stupid with thankfulness that it still exists, and that I will always be welcome there.
Usually I am a terrible pumpkin carver, but as soon as I get my hands on Stacey’s camera, I shall prove that just this once, I done good.