The heart is? , you pay the mortgage? , your stuff is?
I have been pondering "home" for a few days now since I went onto one of the blogs that I found on Roo's blog via Ron's blog (shoo) she is a lady living in Italy. She is not Italian, but has moved from her homeland many years ago and travelled a lot. she no longer feels her birthplace is her home and at times feels like a foreigner or stranger where she lives now.
I felt so sad for her that she had no place to call home, no place to feel at home.
For me my home is so important. I am a taurean and I like my roots to go way down and anchor me to the earth never to move (or be swayed). I have a place I live here in England. I make it homey and comfortable and I surround myself with things that are special or meaningful to me, I do like it and I feel at ease here,but its not my home.
My home is a place where the sky is blue and clear, I can smell the sea and occasionally the wind blows like mad, limping car guards are given money for looking after my car, when I know that if anything happened they would not stand a chance, you spend all your time at the traffic lights(or robots as they are really called) shaking your head vigorously to avoid buying the latest hat that has fan and sprinkler system included,
Its a place where I can relax totally and feel at peace as my family and friends are nearby and we all get each other and understand what it is to call trousers ,pants :)
There is a friendliness in Cape Town that perhaps you don't realise exists until you live elsewhere . There is this easygoing vibe that makes me happy, along with the beautiful weather , amazing places to see and all my lovely, special people.
So if you have got to the end of this post and survived all my babbling I am here to tell you that I am so excited to be going home. no matter where I am based or what I do ,Africa and Cape Town will always be in my blood and it will always be "my home"
7 comments:
*sob*
the good thing is it will always be here waiting for you and us too...
19 more sleeps... yay!!!
Hi Wendy, what a beautiful description of home and had a good laugh at all the traffic light and trouser mentions. Looking forward to seeing you Kris and Lily xxx
Nicci
Thank goodness your trip's just around the corner now!! Can't wait to see you on this side and just hope that you do actually get to see some blue skies while you're here! We were down at Blaauwberg yesterday and I actually said to my mom "how do people manage to leave this city, it's just soooo beautiful". I take my hat off to anyone brave enough to live away from home, it can't be easy!
xxx
We've been in London now nearly 11 months and while we've settled in here and find it pleasant enough, I certainly agree that CT has an easy going vibe about it that you don't find over here... and the London "summer" weather - don't get me started... the people not very sociable... so JA, Wendy, I agree, Cape Town is home!!! Enjoy your visit and say 'howzit' to Table Mountain from me ;)
Hugs,
Lailaa x
Oh God Wends, you have me balling my eyes out here....
Very philosophical and interesting post. I have often thought that South African's of our generation are a nomadic, dislodged group. Many immigrate due to crime and not being the "right colour" to get work, making SA not feel like home. But living in another country is never the same, no matter how much one makes it homely, it never feels like it is our real home. We are strangers wherever we go, a displaced nation. And yet, mother Africa calls us all and creates a longing only ex pats understand, depsite the many layers of guilt and denial.
Yes, us Taureans need our roots in order to feel happy and secure!I guess for me, home really is where the heart is. It is not so much about the country, but rather the people - mainly my family.
And yes, I agree with Ron, we eagerly await your arrival home
xxxx
I have now finished bawling my eyes out!!!!! You write so beautifully my darling. Yes this is your home and it is ready and waiting for you and hopefully if my order got through in time the weather will be just perfect, as it sometimes can be in the middle of winter. Mum xxx
hi wendy
i too have tears in my eyes. It is hard to be so far away from friends and family. It doesnt really get any easier with the years because you really realise how much you miss family after having children and then saying good bye after each short visit.
I would love to return one day. don't know when though.
Nicola.
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