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Library of Congress’s National Book Festival Attracts More Than 120,000 Book Lovers to the National Mall – MarketWatch
Library of Congress’s National Book Festival Attracts More Than 120,000 Book Lovers to the National Mall – MarketWatch.
For some time now, I’ve been planning a 2009 trip to Rochester, New York, which is my hometown.
But.
In June, as many of you know, I traveled to Washington, D.C. to take part in an expert panel for work.
I got a chance to spend four hours in downtown D.C., and I need to go back for a vacation.
Goodbye Rochester, hello Washington, D.C.
Looks like I’m planning a September trip, so that I can go to the National Book Festival!
With my resources, it may be 2010 before I can get there, but I’m going for sure.
While I wasn’t looking, Seattle became my home
I was born in Rochester, New York, about a trillion years ago.
Twelve unhappy years were spent in Wolcott, New York, which is about 50 miles east of Rochester.
But I always gravitated back to Rochester, and felt it was my home.
In 2000, I moved out to Seattle with my mom, so that we could be close to my son and his growing family.
At first I felt uncomfortable here, like a tourist who just decided to reside in Seattle like a temporary citizen.
Then my mom got really sick, and I just stopped thinking about the concept of a geographical location as home.
Life was too busy, too stressful, and I had to deal with the realities of having a dying parent.
Then my mother died, and I needed to take care of myself again.
Last fall/winter, I considered going back “home” to Rochester; I really gave the matter careful consideration. I was also thinking of moving to Oklahoma, where my son and his family were living.
After giving it a few weeks to mull over, I realized that I had adopted Seattle as my home. Financial considerations played a big part, but not entirely.
I really love it here–the mountains, the mostly cool temperatures, the (mostly) liberal citizens, and the friends I have made here.
When my son shared that he and his family missed Seattle and wanted to return “home,” I just sat back with one of those “wow” feelings, and thanked God that I have finally learned to heed my intuition, my inner sense of knowing what is best for me.
While I was busy living my life, Seattle became my home.
Rochester will always be my hometown, but Seattle is where I happily live and work.
Seattle is home.