Tags
I just asked Raul, owner of Hosal Cruzita where I spent last night, for his definition of home.
He paused from wiping the table and replied, “A place for peace, comfort, where you relax. Esparanza; if you have a house you have dreams.”
Most dictionaries describe ‘home’ as a physical place/building where one lives; a geographical place where one has lived or was raised; a native habitat for animals and plant life; a place where personal belongings are stored – where a group of people reside.
From modest dwellings to grand mansions, our choices of ‘home’ often depend on where we are located and our financial options. Those who live in shoebox-sized homes usually dream of living in mansions, where those who reached mansion status often wander through their golden prisons and wonder why they feel so alone.
Whether grand or modest, home provides a resting place, a solace from the days’s trials. We return home with anticipation of letting down our guards, collapsing for a minute or more and doing nothing but breathing in the place we’ve carved as our sanctuary. Our cats and dogs greet us with ‘Welcome Home’ greetings and bask in our presence. We reach for a favorite book or reflect on photos that captured memories of special moments. With anticipation, we inspect the growth of a lovingly-planted tree or frown if the scarlet geranium has dropped its blossoms. Some of us long for a comforting end-of-day cocktail served in one of Grandmother’s crystal glasses then retreat to Great-Aunt Lucy’s rocking chair on the front porch. Others might pour a freshly-made maracuya juice and retreat to the hammock stretched between two almendro trees.
Home. We can pull up roots and move anywhere and take our memories of home with us. We select the most valuable items to take with us; some are documents of importance, photographs and books. Also important are the linens, kitchen and bath items, and furniture if possible. Of course one should take Grandmother’s nicked blue and white china platter that served crispy fried chicken or the carved wooden ‘fishing cat’ that jumped of the china cabinet and scared Miss Margaret half to death! Home isn’t the actual physical shelter; it’s those tidbits and memories that transform a structure into a home. Home coddles us, protects us from extreme weather; it’s our cocoon.
My dear friends in Colorado are presently transplanted to a hotel while they await news on the fires that threaten their home. “We do not know if our house has been burned down or not,” they wrote in yesterday’s email.
Take a moment to reflect on where you are in life and be grateful for that place that you call, ‘home.’
“A beautiful thing is never perfect.” ~Proverb
Hey Amigo!
Tonight I attended a new opening at the museum by artists Didier Galindo, Jorge Moreno,, Tania Reyes y Francisco Barahora. Lovely lovely show and equally lovely people. Perhaps you’ll bring another tour by the Museum! Siempre, Z
I’m grateful every single day that I’ve a home, a home that I love coming home to. It’s filled with books, art, laughter and many memories. I’m very lucky, and blessed to have a home, clean water and plenty of food. The sun is also back in Sweden, 🙂
Hey Amiga! I am so glad that the sun is shining in your beautiful country! I am grateful to know a new word, ‘Tack!’ – thanks to you! Yes, it’s those items that give us comfort and the memories attached to them that turn a house into a home. I am sure that yours is a lovely one that reflects the beauty of your soul. Z
Tack for your beautiful words! I imagine your home is full of color and art, and lots of friendship and kindness. Mine is very colorful, it helps during the long winters, :).
Thank you for this beautiful article. As we prepare for next time in Ecuador, you have reinforced the idea of familiar items making a home. In our preparation for our next trip, I am thinking differently about what will make Ec more like home. Vice versa, we found our selves back in the US enjoying some of our new found treasures from Ec, not only articles, but life style. It is true, it is the tidbits that transform a structure into a home.
Hey Amiga! Your email arrived this afternoon when I was in Roberto Moreno’s office and visiting with our friends Doug and Pam! Thank you so much for your thoughtful reply; I am glad that you transplanted some of the Ecuadorian attitudes to your lifestyle in the ‘States! I look forward to seeing you when you’re back on the line of the equator! Siempre, Z
Thank you for reminding us to count our blessings. Hope that your friends in Colorado will have a positive outcome.
I am hopeful that ‘no news is good news’ and will pass on any new information when they write again. Thanks for your comment and your concern, Z
Thank you all for your comments! I am in Manta and about to attend a museum opening for four new friends. More later, Z
LISA! I have had you on my mind alot lately! I ran into Katie Hornback the other day and she asked about you-said she googled you and saw the work that you are doing now. After having that conversation with her & having you on my mind so much lately, I decided it was time to get in touch! We (Wm, myself, Michael, Whitney) are all doing fine. Life seems to have settled down for me and I have time for myself-finally! Have a busy summer planned. Have a family vacation planned to Pickwick Lake and then a trip out West, Bozeman MT & Jackson Hole WY later in the summer. Can’t wait to see the Big Sky Country…something I’ve dreamed about for 6 years! Looks like you are doing well and enjoying life! Email me! Lots of love, Susan
Hey! Is this the Susan Thompson from Jackson, Mississippi, and if so, can you tell me if Jackson is named for Stonewall Jackson – or not?!! Perhaps you were thinking of me because I was writing about mint juleps! Or because Miss Margaret just had another birthday!
Would you believe that yesterday in Manta, Ecuador, I had lunch with two friends I’ve met who are from Mississippi, two new friends from Arkansas and one from Georgia?!!! There was a ‘touch’ of southern accent drifting across the restaurant!!!
You will surely love your trip out West; will you have George Winston’s music as the official soundtrack for your trip?!
Today I visited two museums in two different towns, a bit like going from Yazoo City to Jackson to Vicksburg and back to YC – by bus!
Please tell Katie, “Hi” and to pass my love on to Joseph! WordPress does a great job with stats, and I saw where someone found their way via search for my name. I’m honored that it was Katie!
Of course I will send an email; I miss you all! Love, Z
Hi Lisa:
Your art is incredible, love the colors, clean lines and composition. I’m Carol we met last week in Manta, at Didier’s show.
Carol
Hey Carol! Yes, I remember you, and I am so glad that Didier has you as a mentor and friend! I look forward to when Didier and his beautiful art can be featured in a post!
It was great meeting you, and thanks so much for your kind words!
Lisa/z
Lisa, I read this post has a lot of philosophical and spiritual beauty. Sometimes we travel to meet other people do, simple and great values. When you talk about the house extraordinary home is all the definition and start painting. Whenever I visit the house of a woman painter in Uruguay and here are some pictures …
http://1cruzdelsur.wordpress.com/2011/01/10/equilibrio/
http://1cruzdelsur.wordpress.com/2011/01/12/observar%E2%80%A6/
Adiós Z
Carlos, thank you for your thoughtful replies! Your friend’s home looks lovely, and I am sure it’s her own private cocoon where she creates her finest art! Z
If, in addition to the sun also has a lot of magic …
http://1cruzdelsur.wordpress.com/2012/01/12/en-el-sur-de-uruguay/
My friends’ home was spared, but they lived in suspense for three weeks! Z