Home for the Holidays

When I asked TJ Brown what it was about Dallas that he liked, he responded with one word.  Familiarity.  Dallas is the city in which I spent the first 18 years of my life, and more than anything it is familiar to me.  This year as people (strangers and friends alike) asked what our holiday plans were, my simple response was, "We're going home for the holidays."  I have not lived in Dallas for 10 years now, what part of it was home?!?  The house I grew up in was leveled this past year to make room for a bigger and better house.  Well, probably bigger, but hardly better.   Not even the beautiful trees I used to climb in the backyard as a child remain.  The house my husband was living in when we met is now for sale and his mom lives some place new.  Families have split up: Brad and I went to 5 houses on Christmas day to see everyone.  But the sites around town, seemed familiar.  Even though we were in new houses, the settings seemed familiar.  More than anything the people were familiar.  As childhood friends also made their way home for the holidays, we were able to reconnect with dear friends we get to see once a year if we're lucky.  What makes Dallas home is that feeling of connection and familiarity.  I guess that is why it will always feel like home, regardless of where Brad and I are.