Larry and I recently spent a few days back in Memphis Tn. We had the pleasure of staying at The River Inn in Harbor Town on Mud Island by the old muddy Mississippi river.To wake to a very foggy morning and walk along the rivers edge was something I never did when I lived there many years ago.It’s always fun to return to a place that you have a history with and do new things, especially as when I lived there I was a single mom and a struggling student putting myself through college, and never could have afforded the luxury of staying in such a nice place. Twenty three years ago I graduated from Memphis College Of Art and within 2 years of that time began my photography business, met and married the love of my life, and moved away. I always find it bitter sweet whenever we return to Memphis. I loved every minute of the time I spent in school there but for the friends,family,food and music I found myself itching to be somewhere else. After leaving Memphis we lived for a couple of years in Kansas City and after 2 really cold winters there ended up moving to South Florida. I had the idea that living in a place where the sun always shines and it never gets cold would be my idea of heaven. Boy was I wrong. I can’t tell you how much I missed the seasons. It’s very hard to mark time when every day is the same. I missed the winters when you can put a fire in the fireplace any cozy up next to your loved ones and listen to Louis Armstrong and Nat King Cole. I missed when all the flowers would bloom in the spring and everything would turn green again as if by magic. Summer I never missed as it was summer every day. Never seeing a tree turn all the bright shades of autumn I missed as well. Coming home to North Carolina 15 years ago was the best decision Larry and I ever made. We have truly found our heaven on earth here. Yes, we go away every winter to another little spot of heaven (St. Martin) but we always return home with joy and gratitude. So, while I really love to travel,to new places as well as old, I will always return to the place my heart calls home.
