Indulging in Nostalgia

We spent this past weekend visiting friends and relaxing in Breckenridge. It's hard to believe it's been almost four years since we moved from that beautiful mountain town to our new urban paradise. Over the years we've been back many times to visit, and it has always surprised my family and friends that I've never once felt sentimental about moving or felt "homesick" (after all, I did live in the mountains for 7 years). It didn't surprise me though; because when we moved down here we were so ready to be in a community where we could really spread our wings. We've loved our house since day one and we've gotten to know and enjoy our neighbors. We've also been blessed with an abundance of good, quality friends, and we are able to do many things on a whim that we couldn't before - like go downtown for a walk, go to the zoo, museum, or mall. So, it's been with a rather detached feeling that I've viewed our old dwelling place over the past few years.

It is precisely for the above reasons that I was surprised, and taken off-guard, by the overwhelming sense of nostalgia that I had the entire time we were in the mountains. Every little thing seemed to bring tears to my eyes - and not tears of sadness - just tears. I found myself for the very first time sitting over a beer with Stephen and asking him if he had any desire to move back to the mountains. It's not like I was actually hoping he wanted to, and planning our move, but for the first time it dawned on me that maybe he too was feeling nostalgic. Turns out he was, though he's not really one for the tears like I am.

There is something so special about living in a small mountain town. Everybody knows each other. You really can't go anywhere without running into someone you know - especially in the off season. It is so family-friendly. We were at a concert Sunday evening at the Riverwalk Center, the Town's concert venue; it was Stephen's favorite country singer (Robert Earl Keen). This was not a show that you would typically consider bringing children to - he can be pretty crass and his lyrics leave little to the imagination. However, it wasn't long after we sat down that I began to see couples coming in with babies in backpacks and slings and little toddlers. How could I have forgotten? People take their kids everywhere in that town! We were the same way. When Husband worked nights and was home with (baby) Kirby during the day, he would go out to lunch, prop the baby carrier on the table next to him, and read the paper, catching up with friends he'd run into. Shoot! Two of the times I sang the Star-Spangled Banner at Town events, I had Kirby in a backpack on my back. I do miss that.

Early Monday morning, as we pulled out of town we stopped at Starbucks for our hit of caffeine and so that Connor could get his "milk in a coffee cup" (seriously, it's gotten out of control). I ran into a former co-worker and friend with whom I've lost touch over the last year. As she and I chatted and caught up, I was reminded that it is special, and it is fun to call yourself a member of that elite crowd - the LOCALS. However, it wasn't long after we started talking that another acquaintance of hers came up with a baby and said hi. They exchanged greetings for a moment and this woman expressed how difficult it is financially for her to stay home with her little one. She said she was hoping to somehow squeeze in two more years of staying home with him. It suddenly dawned on me: "This is why we moved! We moved so that we could afford a house and so that - even though it's still a struggle - it's been possible for me to stay home with the boys. We have a big yard, and tons of kids on our street. We even have a choice of Catholic churches and mass times on Sunday!" Oh yes, there are so many reasons we moved.

Walking out of Starbucks, I glimpsed the flower baskets, overflowing with color and hanging from the lamp posts along main street. I was suddenly overcome with gratitude and a real sense of place. Yes, I was blessed to call the mountains my home for seven years. It is where I met many interesting people; where I had a winter of 114 days on the mountain (skiing); where I met and sang with some amazing musicians in a band (who would have ever thought it possible to combine two dreams?); and where, most importantly, I met my husband and we were married, bought our first home, and had our first baby. I was fortunate to walk down that beautiful main street to the most charming Starbucks in America and get my morning coffee every day. But our hearts led us to leave the mountains, and I never have, and never will question that. We are in the exact place we should be, we just have a lot fewer trees and a lot bigger house!