Nostalgia

For the first time in my life last week, I missed my hometown. It was the strangest thing. I haven't lived there since the summer of 2001, and for the most part I have not missed living there one bit. Until last week.

I went back home to do the Relay for Life with my family, and Jim had to work late so I went by myself. As I pulled into the edge of town, I was overwhelmed by a feeling of sadness that is really quite difficult to explain. I spent the next several minutes reminiscing various memories of my childhood and adolescence.

As much as I complained about living in a small town, it really was a great place to grow up. I always felt safe and I had so many opportunities to be involved in anything and everything. One of my favorite memories of living in Chariton was the swimming pool. Growing up, I practically lived there and as soon as I was old enough, I became a lifeguard. It really is the best job in the world, and to this day if I could get away with it, that would be my only full-time job. (At an outdoor pool, in a warm location.) Here are some pictures of the "new" pool, which opened in the summer of 2000.  I was the assistant manager and swim lesson coordinator, again, who could ask for a better job?

I thimk more than anything I was nostalgic for my childhood. Maybe it's that I'm getting older (I'm almost 30!) or maybe it's just that I haven't been home long enough to really take time to miss it in a long time. Don't get me wrong, though, I have no intention to ever move back there or really any small town like it. Sometimes it's just nice to remember where you came from when you can appreciate it mroe than you ever did before. Does anyone else ever feel this way, or is it just me?