It is warm and welcoming and envelops me with the same smells and tastes and sounds and feelings of comfort. Because I am home.

Now, just 48 hours later, I am wistful—wishful for what I did not do—didn’t follow my heart thinking it was my brain—thought versus my spirit and a yearning, and now here I am—away from home and longing to go back again. 

HOME AWAY FROM HOME BY SHAWN LACY 34THPARALLEL MAGAZINE ISSUE 72

Frederick, Maryland. Back for a family reunion. Thought about visiting some of the familiar places, but at the time—then—it was enough to be in the midst of familiar faces.

Now, just 48 hours later, I am wistful—wishful for what I did not do—didn’t follow my heart thinking it was my brain—thought versus my spirit and a yearning, and now here I am—away from home and longing to go back again. 

In my mind’s eye—the one that captures the images and stores the memory—I see Madison Street and All Saints Street and the home place where fun—generally—and where alliances were formed and life-long friendships forged and hearts intertwined and minds cajoled into thinking this was life and it got no better than this—a…