"It's Nice to be Home"

I don't remember when it happened. Somewhere in between moving into my studio in Wrigleyville and moving out of our shared apartment in Lincoln Park, Chicago became home. I know it didn't happen right away there either... but eventually I reached a point where it was always nice to go "home" to Cleveland, but I would look forward to returning to Chi town. We would go away on weekend trips and, when we returned, I would ride home in a taxi and breathe a sigh of relief when I caught my first glimpse of that beautiful skyline.

View from our apartment on Fullerton - I miss this!

I had my first Dublin moment like that last night. We had just returned from a weekend trip to London (which I'll cover another time!) and I felt a sense of calm come over me as the taxi turned onto our street. I didn't mind that it was raining -- it even felt fitting (I know, I'm quoting myself on liking the rain and will claim someone else wrote this if anyone tries to hold it against me!). But really, it was nice to be "home." Or to a "home away from home" at least. 

Walking around our neighborhood today, I had to smile to myself, because the canal outside our apartment is becoming my skyline... the scene that gives me comfort upon returning from travel. I've watched the trees go from bare to budding blossoms, from lush green to the brilliant colors of fall, and now I'm watching them fall and become bare again. Like the changing trees along the canal, my feelings of being home are evolving. 

I still have a long way to go before I really feel settled here. Maybe I'll reach it by the time we leave! Although, the more we travel, the more Dublin feels like home. Sure, it's not easy to come back here after being in the U.S. with family (and I imagine it will be hard again after the holidays), but it's nice to know that we're getting there. I'm comfortable in Ireland and it will always hold a special place in my heart. Who knows how long we'll be here and who knows where we'll be next, but, no matter where we end up, we'll always feel home here long after we've left.