Continuing Home

I was thinking about my blog post (Nomads) regarding what makes a person feel like they’re home.

Remember the movie Sleepless in Seattle?

In the film, Tom Hanks character was a widower pining for his wife. He couldn’t imagine anyone else making him feel the way she did. There’s a scene where the character tries to explain what it felt like when he knew his wife was “the one.” He said, (I’m paraphrasing), when he took her hand it felt like home.

After thirty-seven years of marriage, I still feel that sense of home when holding my guy’s hand. From the beginning until now. I’d add, there’s a sense of safety there. Feelings of trust, acceptance, and love.

The couple I wrote about who felt like nomads said they never felt home. Really? Not even in each other’s arms? They had two grown kids. Didn’t they feel home when they were together as a family no matter where they were?

I didn’t feel quite home when I moved away from where I grew up. But in the presence of my husband I felt a sense of home. I think, perhaps, if all the loved ones I left back in my hometown had moved close by in my new place I may have felt more settled.

In Florida, I loved the house we lived in. But then, when our first dog passed away, I hated the house for a while. That dog filled the place with such vibrant energy. And once again, being around my dog made me feel accepted. We trusted each other. The home felt so empty without him. Maybe it was me who was feeling empty because of the loss.

I’m seeing a recurring theme here. Acceptance. Trust. Love. I’m thinking, at least for me, a home can be created and felt in the heart with those things. I might add, a touch of humor would help, too.