Wanted: Ruby Red Slippers

          Growing up, I kind of had a love hate relationship with the “Wizard of Oz.” I loved the whole story with Dorothy, the Lion, the Scarecrow, and the Tin Man, but I was absolutely terrified by those creepy flying monkey things. My favorite part of the movie, probably as was everyone else’s, was at the very end when everyone got what they were went to find in Oz. Dorothy who had been trying to get home to her family for so long, was told by the wizard she just had to tap her ruby red slippers together while saying “there’s no place like home” and that is where she appear. Of course, magical ruby red slippers do not actually exist, but that would not change the fact that I would probably give anything to have them. And no, I don’t just want them because they would be a cute wardrobe addition (although that would be a plus), but because they give me what I often want most, to be home and to be with my family. I am a homebody, and always have been. I just love being at home, and in Greenville, and with my family and friends, which is why it still surprises me that I ended up going to school half way across the country. I’m glad I’m one of those people who love going home and probably would go home once a month if I could, I can’t imagine myself not being that way.

          This weekend, I got to tap my invisible ruby red slippers and go home for fall break. At the beginning of the year, I wasn’t sure whether or not I was going to be able to go home at all because of my Saturday Clinical and classes, but my mom being such an amazing and wonderful mother made it work because she knew I wanted and need to come home. (One of the main incentives was probably that she missed me just as much as I miss her.) Timing could not have been more perfect, I needed to be home, needed to get away, and needed to be surrounded by the love, comfort and support that my family gives me. Although I couldn’t get home until late Saturday night (because of a pointless psych clinical), I was able to get 3 and a half days at home, and manage to skip classes Wednesday to get an extra day at home.  Fall break was relaxing and just what was needed to give me that extra burst of energy to last until Christmas. And even though I had some ups and downs over break, I wouldn’t change the time I had at home, except maybe if I could extend it.

          This fall break wasn’t just like any other break. This fall break was so special to me because it was the first time in close to a year that all my siblings and I were together. I’m obviously in Saint Louis almost all year, Daniel lives in Houston, and Stephen and Ellen live in Greenville, so we don’t get to all be together that much. Usually the only time that all four of us are together is at Christmas. My Grandma and aunt from St. Louis came to Greenville to visit, and my grandmother hasn’t seen either of my brothers since my high school graduation.  As we all grow older and start to build our own lives, it just has been rough to get us together. My mom seems be the miracle worker though. She wanted us all to be home when Eppie (my grandmother) was in town and simply wanted to have all her children under one roof together. If I know one thing about my mother, it is when it comes down to family issues like this, she will do what it takes to get what she wants. And that’s what she did. My mom was able to get me home from St. Louis, and Daniel home from Houston (we were sad that Vanessa couldn’t come though). It made me so happy to be able to be at home with the whole family. I miss them all so much. It just felt normal and comfortable having everyone home again, even if we are all almost adults now. An even more rare event than all of getting together was getting a picture of all of us, not just the kids, but also a photo with all four kids and my parents. I honestly don’t know when the last time we got a photo of all six of us together. It has to have been at least 4 or 5 years, but even that is a reach. We might not all be dressed nice or anything (in fact, Ellen doesn’t like it that much because she is in pajamas and doesn’t have make-up on), but I love it. Yes, it may not be classy, but it is all of us together which makes it so very special to me.

My wonderful family! 

          I arrived in the Carolinas to be blessed with seeing a beautiful vibrant sunset of pink and orange. When I finally made it home on Saturday night, the house was surprisingly quite. Ellen had gone out with friends and was spending the night with them, and Daniel met up with one of his best friends from high school, who is still one of his best friends today. I was able to catch up with my parents for a while which was rally nice, since I haven’t seen them in 2 months. There is something much better, more intimate, about catching up in person than over the phone. I didn’t last long before crashing because I was running off of 4 hours of sleep and had been up since 5 am. That night was probably the best night’s sleep I have had all semester. I have missed my bed, missed cuddling with my cat, and missed the comfort of knowing that my family is right down the hall if I need them. Sunday was Daniel’s last day in Greenville (He had to work Monday. Boo). So, it was kinda family day. We all just hung out around the house, and cooked out before having to take Daniel to the airport (Ellen and I got to take him to the airport in Ellen’s new car, Mata).

          Monday, I got to go shopping with my mom, aunt and grandmother. Let me tell you, taking a trip to the mall with my grandmother is quite the adventure….. Fun, but an adventure. I got a few things at the mall (thanks mommy) Probably my favorite purchase was a loose-leaf herbal tea called “winter’s romance” and a tea diffuser. This tea is amazing and reminds me of autumn and winter and is pure bliss. I don’t remember much else about this day except for probably one of the best things of my break happened that night. So if you have been around my house recently or saw my newsfeed blow up, you probably heard that a giraffe at the Greenville Zoo, was pregnant, and they had a web cam on her 24/7. So, on Monday night around 11:50 (eastern time), Autumn had the baby giraffe and I got to see it. AHHH the baby giraffe was so freaking cute. I had been waiting and watching for the baby to be born for like 2 weeks! And then it happened to be born while I was in Greenville. It’s a baby boy named Kiko. So precious! My favorite was watching it try to learn to walk which made me feel inadequate because this little giraffe learns to walk in les than an hour, and it took me a year to learn to walk. L.  Tuesday, Eppie and Carla left, and I went shopping to get southern stuff to take back to school including minted pecans, fried green tomato mix, and grits (so I can make shrimp and grits). I voted, which was really exciting because it was first presidential election I could vote in! I spent a good 4 hours of Tuesday afternoon at Stephen’s (my brother) hair salon, where I decided to go from blonde to even blonder. Ask me 6 years ago if I would ever let Stephen cut or color my hair I would have probably laughed, but now he is the only person I trust to do anything with my hair. Even though it took a while to get my hair done (he is a perfectionist with hair, and since I am his sister, I am not constrained to a time slot), I didn’t mind being at the salon with him for 4 hours. In fact, I am glad that I got to have that time with him. We were able to catch up and just talk about life. We talked about our family, and memories of growing up. I caught him up on my life and told him about school and my house and everything. I have had a lot going on this year, between school and stress. It has been a lot. I have talked to a lot of people who have given me advice, which I really appreciate, but surprisingly it was Stephen’s advice that was the most helpful and made the most since to me. Who would have thought? He is one of the most real and down to earth people I know, so I don’t know why I didn’t think to ask him earlier.

          Before leaving to go back to STL, I was able to spend time with one of my best friends, Anna, which was much needed. I have missed that girl so much.  I just wish I had been able to see Erin, but I will just have to wait until Thanksgiving. When we are back together it is like high school all over again. Nothing has changed. As great as this weekend was, I knew it had to end. So, here I sit, in 9A, 35000 ft in the air on a plane back to Saint Louis. While writing this I can’t help but stop every now and then to turn and look out the window. Slowly the mountains that I call home, that are so familiar to me have turned to rolling hills and finally into flat lands covered in farm. I am slowly getting further and further away from home, but I actually don’t mind, because being away from home has only made me appreciate it that much more.

1 month until Thanksgiving!                                                        

p.s- I forgot that I went to get my flu shot at my dad’s office since he always gives it to me. He is probably the best shot giver I have ever had, really though I couldn’t feel a thing. Then he had me give him his flu shot and his PPD (TB) skin test. The grossness of the TB test was well overcome with the fact that I actually got to give my first TB test to my dad. I was really excited that all my nursing skills are coming in handy, even outside the hospital.