“Where are you from?”
Does that mean where was I born, where have I lived the longest, or where is "home"?
As a girl who has grown up in four different states, I’ve always had a hard time with this question. Where exactly am I from?
The other day my aunt asked me if I liked moving so much. Without hesitation, I responded with a quick, “Yeah, of course!” And this is true. I’ve always loved meeting new friends, learning their stories and being able to experience life from these unique areas. I’ve always loved traveling, and by living in four different states, it has given me the chance to travel with ease. But most importantly, I’ve always loved change.
After a few minutes, though, she replied with, “But don’t you wish that you could call somewhere home?”
This hit me.
She was right. I do wish that I had somewhere to call “home.” I have longed to have at least one friend who has been with me through the ups and downs of my ENTIRE life, not just through a time-span of four years. Don’t get me wrong — I have kept up with a few friends from past states, but from what I’ve heard, it’s not the same as having that one lifelong friend. As time goes by, people drift apart. It’s understandable, but it’s also hard.
We continued on with the conversation as I responded, “Yeah, I guess you’re right.” But thinking about it, her question is still bothering me. Yes, I do wish that I had that one place that I call home. However, as I continued thinking about her question, I realized something. I do have a home. Four actually. My home is in Alabama. My home is in Indiana. My home is in Mississippi. My home is in Virginia.
Each of these places holds a piece of me, and isn’t that what makes a home? A place where you feel loved, a place where you experience life, a place where your heart is? Well, my home is in these four places. Because I have felt loved in these places, and I have experienced life in these places, and a part of my heart is still in each of these places.
So to give a definite answer to my aunt: Yes, I do think it would be nice to have that one place to call home, to experience life with the same group of people and to have that group understand everything about me, but at the same time, I can’t imagine having just one home. I love having friends all over the country, and I love that I get to share a little bit of each of my homes with everyone I meet. I wouldn’t trade my four homes for the world because those places are the places that make me, well...me.
