Welcome Home

“Home …”?

“Home is where the heart is”, it is said.

Alternatively, “Wherever I hang my hat is home”.

Perhaps it’s like pie eating on Thanksgiving. Give me a sliver of the apple (with lots of cinnamon!) and a sliver of the tangy lemon meringue for variety and balance.

Mainly home is geographic, but must be where I can contribute, where community is enriched by my presence. If my local knowledge realigns confused map fondlers, we’re getting pretty close.

Welcomed into the house of a reuniting family, I was struck by how friendly they all were and yet how apart I felt. More than half of them were new to me.

Despite their warmth, I had no role. They had their family culture and their set routines. How to contribute? Could I impose my personal culture into theirs? I really should be more brave! Curses ….

Mid-thought, an auntie approached. “Don’t you just feel at home here?” she demanded. The expected answer was, “Oh, yes”, but could I lie? Should I lie?

“No… Oh, everybody is very friendly and I’m thankful to be here, but, no, I don’t really feel at home.”

“Oh, you do!” she insisted.

The honest answer had been the right one for me, I realised.

Now we are back after a whirlwind US tour.

My heart is most surely in Kutztown (unfortunately not part of this journey).

My heart is most definitely in Boston. It wanders the alleys, breathing in the changes amidst memories of how sites joined up, once upon a time.

So, home …. Contribution and community distinguish “just visiting” from “at home”.

Currently Edinburgh’s pulse syncopates with my own. I take comfort in knowing it will continue to do so after mine has slowed and stopped.

In the meantime, singing with Protest in Harmony, wrangling dots, creating artsy fartsy projects, brainstorming and trying to be a better friend keep me moving forward.

I thrill at the idea of moving back to Boston, embracing and snuggling into it. No doubt there is a uke scene and a dot scene and an arts scene. I’m in love with its public transport system and long to know its idiosyncrasies as I once intimately did. This visit was way too short, even to make a start.

We’re back in Edinburgh now. The scent of baking grains occasionally fills the air. The tram work progresses. The dot wrangling is good. I’m thankful for wonderful friends. The uke scene is modest but evolving (as, hopefully, are my skills).

Monday Ukearist meets tonight. My art corner awaits. Protest in Harmony are singing for Gude Cause on Friday. I’m eager to catch up with HS, EW, PS, FT, JI, LH, JB, DL ….

Welcome home.