Create Our World

“Home is not where you live, but where they understand you.” – Christian Morganstern

***

My cousin, Molly and my aunt, Cathy.

About 6 years ago…

I left the State of Michigan after graduating from Michigan State University hungry to see other parts of the world and also with embarrassingly some youthful snobbishness.  ”I am better than this state!” was my attitude.

At first, I had little interest in visiting Michigan on my journey.  I wanted to connect with all my friends and family here, yes, but I was so excited to wander to places I have yet to explore!  So upon entering I was filled with a bit of boredom and regret and my head was dreaming of California and the Rockies and Maine.  

My Chore that turned into a Blessing.

It almost seemed like Michigan was the chore I had to DO, before I could continue on my journey.

In my travels, when I ask people about their home town or home state, most will predominantly begin by telling you what is wrong with the place.  This how I felt about Michigan.  

I was planning my stay in Michigan to be about 2 weeks.  Tops!  But now, over a month later, as I leave my home state, I feel a renewed connection to the place that I grew up in. Also, a renewed connection to old friends and family.  Similar to feeling like I have revisited an old girlfriend, whom I had bad vibes with and we smoothed it out.  

My Family.

I loved spending time with my family through a challenging family event.  Helping my grandparents move across the country to live in a new place.  I thought at times my family may implode, yet through the differences in opinion and discussions about where they should live or who should help them;  my family still can eat massive quantities of meat and sing, “Afternoon Delight” together!

My Friends.

I visited some friends whom I had not seen in close to 10 years.  Friends whom I used to run track with in high school.  It was awesome to witness how close a bond we have and how after a long period of time, that it still returns.  

I met so many new friends, whom I am so thankful to now have in my life!  People whom I am very interested to watch how our lives will intertwine in the future.  

Leaving.

I leave Michigan more connected to my roots and feeling like as I jump around the country and maybe the world in the coming years, that I have a solid, loving, and stable platform to leap from.  

Thank you to everyone!

I love you!

Create Our World.

Ben.

“Home is a place you grow up wanting to leave and grow old wanting to get back to.” – John Ed Pearce

Everywhere is Beautiful!!!

***

“Homer, Alaska is the best town for transients.”

Jasper tells me this as we are driving towards Rockford, MI.  He picked me up in downtown Grand Rapids on his way home from a job interview.  Jasper is wearing a striped shirt with a blue tie.  

He hitchhiked around Alaska and had all sorts of jobs.  He worked on fishing boats that went out into the ocean and he could have gotten rich.  His friend did!  Jasper’s friend made $25,000 from one trip.

Jewel’s aunt owns a farm in Homer and according to Jasper, a lot of interesting folks work there or at least visit.

Jasper dropped me about 15 miles from Greenville, Michigan.  I am headed home to visit my father for a few days.

Dan pulls up in a large van.  He is a carpenter, headed home after work.  I tell him about my journey and for the rest of the journey, Dan tells me about the beautiful places in America.  He rattled off place after place.  I forgot most of them.  But as he was rattling away, I thought, there are so many beautiful places, how will I see them all?  

But, there are beautiful places everywhere.  I don’t need to see them all, I just need to fully appreciate what I do see!

Create Our World.

Ben.

“No matter where you go, there you are.” – The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (motion picture) (1984).