Home, they say, is where the heart is. But for me, home is in my memories. This is my heart's path.
My heart leads me to my childhood and growing up in our modest house on a busy street. It was a home filled with love, security, and support. My loving, kind parents raised me to have the courage to go and explore. I remind myself often, “I am doing this because of how they raised me.” The love and safekeeping of my working-class family are the support underlying my passion for travel and adventure. There is a lot in this that influenced the way I raised my daughter, Maddie.
Home is not just the place of support I feel inside, but also it lives in the fantastic friends I’ve made. Though we are often miles apart, friendships are close to my heart. To not have friends is something I can’t think of! Since I was very young, friendships have been a reason for joy. Friendship is what took me to the UK this summer, summer 2023.
A lifelong friendship was why I left for the UK ahead of my friend, Elaine. Elaine and my original plans were set for about two weeks after I arrived. Yet, I went on early to say farewell to Jackie, my friend of 43 years. My already fragile heart has been breaking in sorrow with her loss, but I am grateful for the extra time afforded to me with many other long-lasting friends, cousins, and my loving family in Wales.
I was privileged to be so beautifully included in Jackie's remembrance day. I was able to be a part of the memories of her life, see the good life she led, and feel her dedication to her three exceptional children. This was an amazing, though difficult, experience. Jackie’s adult children put much detail and purpose into the farewell service. This was a tribute to how Jackie raised them. I know she is still beaming down on them with pride, and she seemed to have blessed that service day with sunshine (it was a beautiful June day) as a sign of her delight in them, her children.
Home is a place in Wales, a beautiful place in North Wales. Anglesey is where my small family (small in a way I never imagined) lives. I could be with my brother, his wife, Hels, and their two sons, Ben and Harry, on the anniversary of Maddie's passing, June 19. Their presence is a help in healing parts of my broken heart, a heart never to mend but stitched by their love and happiness. The love my family has for Maddie is expressed in everything they do. She is close to their hearts and touches my heart softly when I am with them. This is home. This is love.
The trip home is simple and convenient for most of us, but a lot is required in timing & planning for me, and has been for these last 35 years. Even though I have lived in the USA for many years, I have not stopped calling England home. So, home is England.
Everything went so smoothly and effortlessly for Elaine and me, enabling us to enjoy every moment of this trip. From day one, Elaine and I knew that Maddie was with us. In the imagination of a statue we saw in the garden of the Chester Cathedral, Maddie showed us she was with us. I explained to Elaine why this statue spoke so strongly to me of Maddie and why. It was an emotional moment for us both.
Like so many moments, the one pictured here is when we were looking at a statue in a garden; this one is filled with emotion. Helen says, "It depicts the moment I experienced when Maddie came to me that morning hovering above me, as real as life, telling me, “ I love you, Mum, you’re going to be OK, I love you, and I’m OK. “
The moment and experience spoke to me so clearly. This statue (one we just happened to see in a garden) appears to me this way on the day in time (the same day in June) when I would learn the truth about her. A beautiful moment is was!
Sharing the moments and memories was great for me, and the days were filled with fun and laughter! The events were so cheery leading up to the moment that Elaine literally stumbled upon her grandparents’ grave. This was by far the fondest memory of the journey! This is a moment I will never experience again and never forget. The delight and emotion in Elaine’s face are hard to express in words, and this is a moment that I am so happy I was there to experience.
Elaine finds her mother's hometown and grandparent's grave.
Travel is a privilege, maybe? Travel is an education; you will learn something no matter how near or far that road leads you.
Take travel when you can. You will learn much from the sites, experiences, and people you meet. The places will stay with you in your mind’s eye. You will learn from each experience and moment.
Most of all, the people you encounter and meet on your path are special. They will undoubtedly stay in our hearts forever.
They and love will always bring you home.
Cheers!
Comments