This Saturday I fly to Wisconsin to visit my family…my mom, two sisters and a brother. They all live within 40 miles of each other. I have not lived in Wisconsin since 1996 when my husband decided to attend graduate school. I miss living near my family, although there are times I am glad I live a good distance away. I probably see them 1-2 times per year. My mother more often since she comes to visit me once or twice each year.
One of the strange phenomenons that happened when I moved away – sometimes I feel like I have abandoned my family. I feel isolated from them a lot of the time. We (us siblings) do not phone each other very often. I speak with my mom usually once a week.
When I plan a trip to visit my family I always feel a little like the prodigal daughter. I haven’t done anything wrong, but moving away from my family has isolated me a bit from them. Maybe it’s me feeling guilty…the whole abandonment issue.
So on Saturday off I go into the wild blue yonder…called Wisconsin. Yes, cheese-heads, brats, and beer. Not necessarily in that order. I think beer comes first…at least in my book.
I miss Packer games, Brewer games, hanging out at my youngest sister’s place on the lake with my family, shopping with my mom and visiting with friends that I have left behind. Do I think about moving back, only every other day. The winters don’t scare me…I love the cold weather and I miss the snow. They had a record snow fall this year.
Sometimes I feel that I go where ever the wind blows me. Other times I feel like I am travelling against the wind. I wonder which is the correct course I am supposed to take. Time will tell…time will tell.
