My very first Top Comments diary post was called "Homesickness Edition." I wrote it right after I moved from rural northwestern Pennsylvania to Houston, Texas, when I was missing my friends, family, and general way of life back in the boondocks. I thought this country boy would never get used to life in the big city.
Well, now I'm feeling that same homesickness, even as I sit in that very place I missed so much four months ago. Life is funny. Please, indulge my homesick ramblings, after the doodle-thingy...
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Please come in. You're invited to make yourself at home! Join us beneath the doodle...
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Back when I bought my tickets to fly back for the holidays, I decided to spend a little over three weeks of my break with my Pennsylvania friends and family. As I'm now beginning to realize, that's a little too much time. Don't get me wrong. I love my friends and family here in Pennsylvania. But (I never thought I'd say this) "home" is now Houston. I've built quite the life for myself in the four months I've been living in Texas. And now, as I wait to fly back to Houston on January 10, I'm getting more and more homesick.
I miss so many things. I miss the weather. I looked out my window this morning, and this is what I saw. I used to love the snow. You know, back before I had to brush off the car, scrape ice off the windows, and shovel the steps and sidewalk. Now I just hate it. I've been inside all day, and I don't plan to leave any time soon. I just checked the weather in Houston, and it's 60 degrees. Not fair. The funny part is that people in Houston are probably walking around in winter coats and scarves.
I even miss Houston traffic. Houston has a reputation for bad drivers. I didn't realize I'd become one until I left the city. Sometimes, as I'm passing car after car, I wonder why everybody is driving so slow, and then I look down and realize I'm going 85. I fit in quite well on the Houston freeways. Now, I'm a little like a fish out of water here in rural Pennsylvania among the horses and buggies.
I miss Tex-Mex. When I went to my old favorite Mexican restaurant up here, I was astounded at how blah the food was. I've been spoiled by the food in Texas. Bowling For Soup was right when they sang (about Texas) that "the Mexican food sucks north of here anyway." It really does. When I get back to Houston, I'm going to treat myself to some beef enchiladas and a margarita right quick.
I never thought I'd say this, but I miss Whataburger. At first, I mocked Whataburger, which seemed like a Burger King knockoff with orange and white cups. But it's grown on me. I think I have a date with a "Whatachick'n" and some greasy fries when I get home.
I miss people who say "y'all." It's become part of my vocabulary now, and I just get weird, judgmental looks when I say it in Pennsylvania. Because "yinz" is so much better, apparently.
Oh, how I miss racial diversity. I'm really, really sick of white people right about now. There are too many of them here.
And of course, I miss all the friends I've made in Houston. But most of all, I miss my schmexy (and occasionally feline) boyfrannn. Isn't he the cutest li'l thing you've ever seen? I picked a really, really bad time (right before I flew back to Pennsylvania) to fall for somebody. But we're hanging in there. Only another nine days until I get to see him again (not that I'm counting or anything). When I get back, we're taking a mini-vacation to Austin (because that's where Texans vacation) before classes start up again. When I look out the window at the snow and general nastiness, that's what I keep reminding myself.
Oh well. I have eight more days in Pennsylvania, so I'd might as well make the most of them. Besides, I can't leave yet, because I haven't visited gizmo59 and tobendaro! (or psychodrew, if I can make it to Pittsburgh!)
I just hope I make it back to Texas before I lose my accent!
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January 1, 2012
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