Time Flies
Every once in a while I feel like somebody hits the Fast Forward button on my life and forgets to slow it down. Things have DEFINITELY been like that lately, and I find myself in the rare position of having quite a bit to say but not nearly enough time to sit down and get it all out.
I had a great time in Texas….but I think my visit was WAY too short (Kevin would disagree). I loved visiting with Camille, Josh, and GMan, and I loved getting to see their families and friends. G is growing up too fast for me, so I can only imagine how Camille feels about all of this. When I was a kid, Mom always said she was going to put bricks on my head so I would stop growing; I totally get that now. I don’t feel like the grown-ups are getting any older, but the kiddos sure are shooting up like weeds!
I’m also SOOOOOO glad that I made the time (finally) to go home. I haven’t been back to the Fort since we moved to Florida, and boy, have I ever missed it. I got to spend time with my family, and I also got to see SO many friends (to those of you I missed on this trip, I’m truly sorry, and I miss you. I’ll try to be back soon, I promise). I think I was long overdue for this trip, too (and not just because I’ve been in severe Mexican food withdrawal). Don’t get me wrong: I LOVE Amelia Island. I don’t want to move away from here anytime soon. But Fort Worth is home. Mama’s Pizza, the museums, family, friends, cruisin’ the Bowie…..All of those things are part of the fabric of, well, me. As much as I love having people come and visit here (and those who HAVE come to visit are probably SO tired of hearing us gush about just how awesome this town is), it’s not the same as being with those people back in the place that made me.
I am one of the luckiest people I know when it comes to friendships. I’m one of the fortunate few who can say that I still have some of the same friends now that I had when I was a kid (Angie: I’m SO glad we’re able to pick up right where we left off!). I have girlfriends who have held my hand through heartbreaks, who stood up for me at my wedding, and who have (on more than one occasion) kicked my ass back into reality when I was being an idiot (by the way? Thanks, Megan and Jessica. Y’all have always been there for me, and always without judgement. I love y’all). I love that, one day, all of our kids will be able to get together and talk about the stories that they’ve heard about when their moms were younger. Wait. On second thought, maybe we should censor some of those stories.
As much as I was ready to go home and see my husband and my dogs, it was H-A-R-D to get on that plane. I could’ve used just a couple more days back in the fold of what is so familiar to me (plus, I really could’ve gone for one more enchilada). The bluebonnets were still going great guns, and I’ve missed that. I would’ve liked to have taken a walk through Trinity Park, preferably during Mayfest (but without the hailstorm, thank you very much). I also didn’t get to see everybody I wanted to (you know who you are). The silver lining in all of this, though, is that now I *know* I won’t let as much time pass before I come back. And also? New buildings may pop up, and roads may get a little wider, but Fort Worth never really changes. There will always be bricks on Camp Bowie, Mama’s Pizza will always be tasty, and the Mexican food will—-without a doubt—-be better than anything I can get in Florida.
And no matter what Thomas Wolfe says, you can, in fact, go home again.
