I've moved a lot. Not as much as other people I know, but I can divide my life into four very distinct moments and stages in my life. For me, the fondest memories I have come from Williamstown, Mass., where I lived from kindergarten through seventh grade. The small, quaint town feels like home even today, and this week I was lucky enough to spend the weekend in Williamstown.

As I was driving into town along winding roads and through the mountains, I was reminded at the beauty of the Berkshires, and how much I had missed the feelings as I drove through the rolling mountains. I got excited as I remembered little shops along the roads, and the hairpin turn where massive icicles would be during the cold winters. Little things like the "Now Entering... " signs brought back memories, and the familiarity made me feel safe, like I was coming home after a long journey.

As I pulled into the one-stop-light town, I was immediately struck by how much was different, and yet how much was still exactly the same. The one house that has been on the market forever, because it looks like a gingerbread house was still where I left it. The kids were running around on the playground outside the school like I had done so many times before.

I started to make a list of everything I wanted to do, where I wanted to go, and who I wanted to see. I couldn't wait to reclaim my territory downtown, and go back to all of my favorite places. Sitting in the coffee shop doing work I felt at peace, like I was where I belonged. I fell in love over and over again at the quaint shops, and the sense of simplicity and easiness that seemed to come with the town. I missed the slow-paced lifestyle, and safety that comes with the simplicity and happiness of a small town.

I felt so relaxed seeing old friends, like I was with my people again. I laughed like I haven't in a long time, and felt more comfortable then I could have thought. I was so grateful to still have these friends nine years after leaving, and I love knowing that I will always have them in my life. Just like the town, these people have left handprints on my heart, and I can't imagine my life without them.

Getting to go back to Williamstown and feel at home again, I was reminded how fleeting life is, and how everything can change in an instant. I'm grateful for every single chapter of my life, and I am reminded of that every day. A piece of my heart is forever in Williamstown, and I can't wait to go home again soon.