Home Sweet Home!

I am home at last! I am back at work. It is cold outside, and the town is covered in snow. There is even an impending ice storm tonight! About all of this, I am truly excited and content because I have been away from home for 2 and 1/2 days. It is simply excruciating to be away from home for me, but I find value in my simple belongings and simple life when I return. Nicole is doing well. They switched her pain medication, and as of last night, her pain had finally gone down and she was no longer vomitting. I have not checked in with her yet today, but I will let you all know when I do.

There is a little bit of bad news, though. My other friend that also went down there never made it out of St. Louis. Her car broke down, and they think it is her fuel injector. That is about a $200.00 replacement if they have to do that. She was also charged $50.00 to be towed less than a mile. For a trip that was relatively cheap because we stayed with Big T's sister, she is having to pull money out of savings or her credit card now to fix her car. Not to mention the huge let down when she realized she would not be able to go home last night and lay in her own bed. I feel so terrible for her. Today she has to run around to the mechanic, miss work, and I'm sure she doesn't feel up to par after sleeping in a hospital chair all night. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers so she can make it home quickly and safely today.

Back to my thoughts on home, though. When I drove into town last night, I was simply giddy and overjoyed to see Big T again, and give him a huge hug and lots of kisses. When I got home, he had chicken in the oven for us, and for those of you who don't know him, that is his way of being romantic. ;) I am just so in love with him and all his quirky behaviors! I went to the grocery store down the road and was enamored with joy at the fact that I can just go "down the road" for anything I need. Big cities are nice for vacation and fun things, but I think I may very well always be a small town girl. Also, as I was going to the grocery store (just down the road ;) ) I was looking around at all the familiar places I love and seeing them covered in snow, and I literally had a chill down my spine. I realized how much I love my town. When I went into the grocery store, I saw familiar faces, actually spoke to the woman in the deli who knew me by name, and witnessed others' familiar embraces. I felt very warm because I realized how much I truly value knowing my neighbors and really feeling part of a community. Six lane highways, a party every night, minimal Christmas decorations, and never knowing who is living next door to you simply cannot bring me happiness compared to the warmth of a small, close knit, gossipy community. They obviously have their downfalls, but someone always has your back when times get tough.