homesweethome2024

[homesweethome2024]

Another One of My Homes

The plane finally touched down in Florida just as the sun began to set, making the clouds lay on a bed of gold and pink hues. I’d been coming to my grandparents’ home by the gorgeous blue ocean since I was a baby, but at 20 years old, this visit felt just as comforting as it had my whole life. The crisp air hit my face the moment I stepped off the plane, filling my body with a sense of comfort and intense nostalgia.

As I made my way out of the airport and to the car, I saw my grandparents waiting for me, with their warm smiles and summer clothing on. The whole scene made me experience a Deja-vu, I hadn’t been here in a whole year, but the whole environment made me feel at home.

“Welcome back!” my grandpa said, giving me a tight hug.

The drive to the house contained palm trees, sand coloured houses, and of course, the blue ocean in the distance. As we pulled into the driveway, I was hit with a wave of happiness and I smiled. The house was the exact same as the last time I was here, with the salty breeze from the ocean flowing through the open windows. 

After dinner, I walked all the way down to the sandy beach. The sand cooled under my feet, as the sun finished setting and the ocean stretched out in front of me. I watched the waves roll in and eventually the moonlight began shimmering on the surface.

I started thinking about all of the Christmases I’ve spent here, building sand castles, collecting rocks and seashells, and swimming with my brother. It seemed like I was building sand castles a whole lifetime ago, yet the memories felt so fresh, like I never left.

The next morning, my Grandma and I went on our small boat, just like we used to. The engine hummed as the waves crashed against the sides of the boat. We sat in silence surrounded by the ocean that had surrounded me for every Christmas I remember. 

That evening, we sat on the porch, watching the sunset touch the top of the ocean, painting the sky shades of pink and orange. Grandma sipped her tea, and Grandpa made his usual dad jokes that we all laughed at. The salted air was warm, the sound of the waves were never ending, and I felt so much peace. 

I had grown and changed in many ways, but this place, the house, the beach, and the people, would always be a part of me. I realized then that no matter where I was, or how far I traveled, spending time with my grandparents in Florida is where I felt most at home.

[homesweethome2024]

Here's another hint! Story time coming soon.

There's something about the duality in this photo that really gets me thinking

[homesweethome2024]

Can you guys guess where I was this Christmas based on this video? Comment below!!!

RESTING THE SOUL 🌊🐠🐳🐬🦭🐡🦐🦞🦀🦑🐙🪼🪸🦂🦈🐚

[homesweethome2024]

seems like we share the same thoughts about a night by the firepit

A night I’ll never forget ✨🫶🏻🔥

[homesweethome2024]

The Moment I Stepped off the Bus

Hey! It’s been a while, but I just returned from camp and I wanted to share a special story I wrote, about returning back to camp.

The first thing I noticed when I stepped off the bus was the smell. It was pine needles getting crushed underfoot, mingling with the faintest smell of burnt wood and sunscreen. It had been over a year since I was back, but the scents pulled me back in like no time had passed at all. 

My favourite sleepaway camp, my summer home for a decade, looked the exact same. The wooden cabins leaned slightly over the mountains, the docks were stretched long and sturdy into the lakes glistening surface, and the fire pit by the beach tugged on my heartstrings, reminding me of all the memories long gone but not forgotten.

I dropped my bag on the crushed pine needles and stood still, letting the wind wrap around me. I carried a weird mix of nostalgia and an ache I hadn’t realized I still carried with me.

The lake had a glisten that called to my first. I slipped my shoes off, walked across the dock, and dangled my feet into the ice cold water. The ripples danced around my feet, like they recognized me. The shock of the cold of the first lake plunge, the laughter echoing off the surface, and peaceful moments when I floated on my back staring at the sky.

“Hey!”

I turned to see a familiar face- Rachel. 

“Welcome back! Doesn’t it feel the same?” She asked me.

I told her it felt exactly the same, even though my words kept getting caught in my throat. It wasn’t the exact same. 

We sat in silence for a few moments looking out at the lake, the feeling that only camp friends would understand. The faint hum of a guitar hit my ear. I knew exactly what song they were playing, I didn’t even need to hear any of the chords to feel the words tug at my chest. 

Later, as the sun hit the lake and painted it in gold and pink, I found myself sitting by the fire with my campers. We sang like the old days, voices humming together, most off key but it didn’t matter. The melodies surrounded me like a weaving rope of memories. When the last note came, the fire cracked at the perfect second, to seal the memory. I looked up at the stars, they always looked brighter here at camp.

Camp was not just a place I had been, it was a piece of me. It shaped every part of me. Every trail I walked and every song I sang had shaped me into who I am in ways I was only now beginning to understand.

That night, I lay in my old bunk, listening to my campers snoring, the distant call of an animal, and chirping crickets. This was not just a visit to camp, this was a reunion with the person I used to be, and maybe deep down, still was.

Camp was not just a summer activity, a building, or a place, it was home. Between the pine trees, in the ripples of the lake, and the strum of a guitar, I was back home.

[homesweethome2024]

This reminds me so much of camp...

Zaman akıp giderken / geçmişle boğulmadan / gelecekle savaşmadan / bugünün içini doldurmaya çalışmaktır hayat . . .!

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