The Long Drive Home

Since moving to Hawaii, I've written about how hard it is to live with family and how hard it is to be unemployed and living with family and how hard it is to...

Did I mention how much fun it can be to live with family? How amazing it is to be around someone that you have a long, shared history with? The shits and giggles of knowing someone so well that you have an innate understanding of who they are and why they're that way?

As well as someone who knows you the same way also?

This is a hard choice, siblings living together as adults. And we've had some really rough moments. But since I got employed and my stress levels decreased and they've started getting used to us being here and their stress decreased... it's been a much better situation. And there's been moments of pure emotional pleasure.

Coming home after work and finding my daughter giggling in the kitchen with her aunt was an unexpected joy. Remembering people and moments with my brother.

Did I mention how nice it is to have someone ask about your day?

I've always been rather solitary and even way back when I lived with my mother we spent a lot of time not interacting. Then when she was gone there was only me and a small child and I was Mom, 24/7. Nobody asked about my day, nobody cared if I was tired or not feeling 100%. (Except Carolyn, my lifeline on the phone line.)

I'm not a coupley kind of gal and don't intend to change. But I really understand now how good it feels to come home and have someone care to hear your stories and share in your good and bad days. And we still have our own spaces and relationships.

I haven't had a connection like this in a long time. And I didn't know that I missed it but now that I have it I realize what it meant.and what I was lacking.

I do wonder if it's going to change my writing. Not that I'm writing much these days. But it's there under the surface, words starting to percolate and a story wanting to come out.

Looking forward to it.