Home Town. The center of the universe. Every destination from this place plots a sun-burst pattern on the map of the world, and it is the center. This dot. Strangely, it doesn't mean a thing to those you encounter outside, but it's the point from whence you come, and the place to where you will some day return. It informs who you are. You know it better than any place, and it knows you. Once one leaves this place, can one return? Are the changes that occur post-childhood too much, too painful to confront? Does it welcome you back with open arms and give you the same kind of comfort it once did?
There's an elderly gentleman - Fred - with whom Jared and I have shared a few Altitude happy hour beers within recent months. Fred hails from a town of 700 somewhere back East. New Hampshire maybe? At the time he was growing up, the population was more in the range of 300. The community, which is in close proximity to a major metropolitan center, has never ballooned. It hasn't been spoiled by suburbia, he claims. Fred explained to us that the town keeps the numbers low by only allowing one new building permit to be granted each year. Fred moved to Laramie long ago to develop a cattle vaccine. Though I do not remember exactly the number of years Fred spent in Laramie, it seemed to be around 30.
Fred will soon return to his home town of 700. He's sad to leave Laramie, and it was obvious from his demeanor that he was nervous about his homecoming, but is being pulled back by family, and probably by age. His son was to come out and help him pack up his 30 years and drive it back. After listening to Fred's story, I started to consider how few people share his experience of growing up in this tiny town. How will it feel for him to return, possibly to the same house in which his family still lives? The trees will have grown. The barber shop will have become a nail salon. It will have changed, but probably not all that much. But how about Fred? I suppose I don't know him well enough to say.
At the same time Fred returns to his home town, I've returned to mine. I can no longer answer the question of how long we'll stay in Laramie. I don't know: years? Wow. Years! That would have completely freaked me out to think about before this point. Especially last December upon re-entry after our European tour. I may have cried. But one night it just hit me: I have never left Laramie not to return home to it. As much as I've fought it, Laramie is, and always has been my definition of home. Why didn't I see it before? I think what it took for me was being put back for here for a while with a chance to leave and to really have to make the conscious choice to stay. It likely wouldn't be such a happy ending we had been forced to stay by unforeseen circumstances. But a real job for Jared (and I suppose mine could be considered "real" as well), and now a house as well... It's two blocks from the house I grew up in until I was 5. It's all happening. In Laramie.
Who thought this would happen? Jared's mom.
It was long ago when she made that prediction. How does she do it? It has happened on several occasions that she has, months, years before an event said out loud what was to occur and it has happened. Amazing.
So, the question is: how does it feel to sell out? Is that what we're doing? Have we abandoned all of our ideals? Have we left our life style of international living behind? Hey, at this point I am utterly convinced of this Saturn Returns theory. It is a time of growth, of new identities, a test of character. We're starting to hone in on goals here. This is the "time of clearing our old psychological refuse" (http://www.aquariuspapers.com/astrology/2005/10/the_saturn_retu.html) Sounds kind of gross - psychological refuse. Let's just call it "change," shall we?
And you know what? Thought at times is unnerving, it feels great. We're going to have a tree house, folks. After we deal with the not so pleasant tasks of repairing the side walk and signing the mounds of papers, we're going to move in to our own house. And Jared's going to be a great teacher, and I'm going to... well, I'll figure that part out. I have time now. SO, look for a killer BBQ/house warming invite for some time in the month of August.
I hope Fred will have a celebration of similar magnitude in his home town. We wish him well.
(Steph)
A Dr. Seuss Day Tribute or A Laramie Weekend with Scott and Sandy Newton
Snewt 1 and Snewt 2 came to Laramie-loo.
They came for a visit, for a short rendezvous.
for a month? for a year? for a fortnight or two?
No, for just one weekend, to little Laramie-loo.
They visited good friends -- some old and some new,
They laughed, they chatted, they chuckled --
They're wild about burgers and brew.
Oh we wish that we could, but for right now this will do.
For the next little while, Panda one and Panda two,
will stay in their big home in little Laramie-loo
And wait to hear from France on a visa...or two.
They came for a visit, for a short rendezvous.
for a month? for a year? for a fortnight or two?
No, for just one weekend, to little Laramie-loo.
They visited good friends -- some old and some new,
They laughed, they chatted, they chuckled --
They're wild about burgers and brew.
Little Laramie-loo:
Home to Vacation pandas one and two,
Was between points for the Pandas searching for who:
Who were they now? And what would they do?
Oh, what a question for the pandas: number one and number two.
What experience do you have? Your field? Size shoe?
Oh who are you, pandas? Oh what will you do?
Was between points for the Pandas searching for who:
Who were they now? And what would they do?
Oh, what a question for the pandas: number one and number two.
What experience do you have? Your field? Size shoe?
Oh who are you, pandas? Oh what will you do?
Snewt 1 and Snewt 2 came to Laramie-loo.
They faced questions not unlike the vacation panda two.
They traveled the land from interview to interview.
The idea was to find a new home for little Snewt 2,
And maybe for Snewt 1; he might tag along too.
They faced questions not unlike the vacation panda two.
They traveled the land from interview to interview.
The idea was to find a new home for little Snewt 2,
And maybe for Snewt 1; he might tag along too.
And like their friends from little Laramie-loo,
They also weren't sure where to go, what to do.
They also weren't sure where to go, what to do.
So the four of them met over burgers and brew.
They chuckled and chatted, but were serious too.
They tried to sort out where they'd work, how they'd plan, what they'd do.
Should we go far away? That we might quite like to do.
To Japan? To Korea? To France? Oh goodie goo!
They chuckled and chatted, but were serious too.
They tried to sort out where they'd work, how they'd plan, what they'd do.
Should we go far away? That we might quite like to do.
To Japan? To Korea? To France? Oh goodie goo!
Oh we wish that we could, but for right now this will do.
For the next little while, Panda one and Panda two,
will stay in their big home in little Laramie-loo
And wait to hear from France on a visa...or two.
Snewt 1 and Snewt 2 will search also too.
They'll drive and fly from point A to point U,
Snewt 2 will try her best in each interview,
And they'll find their new home: we know this is true.
They'll find the perfect place, their new home for Snewt 2.
They'll drive and fly from point A to point U,
Snewt 2 will try her best in each interview,
And they'll find their new home: we know this is true.
They'll find the perfect place, their new home for Snewt 2.
And how about the Pandas who are searching for who?
Where will they go and what will they do?
Well, we'll just have to see. You just keep watching, you.
If you have some ideas, you should tell them. Please do!
Where will they go and what will they do?
Well, we'll just have to see. You just keep watching, you.
If you have some ideas, you should tell them. Please do!
They are waiting to see you in little Laramie-loo.
They are waiting for laughing and burgers and brew.
You can find them on Fridays: the same place they go to,
On Fridays, downtown, chez Altitude.
They'll laugh and they'll chat and be serious too.
It will depend, in part, on what you want to do.
5 O'clock. Don't forget! They'll be waiting for you.
You'll see them there soon, in little Laramie-loo.
- Dr. Steph-
They are waiting for laughing and burgers and brew.
You can find them on Fridays: the same place they go to,
On Fridays, downtown, chez Altitude.
They'll laugh and they'll chat and be serious too.
It will depend, in part, on what you want to do.
5 O'clock. Don't forget! They'll be waiting for you.
You'll see them there soon, in little Laramie-loo.
- Dr. Steph-
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