Living so far away from where I was born and raised, I find it liberating that nothing here reminds me of my past. This is all new. I am not haunted by old associations. Nobody reminds me of somebody I don’t like.
Recently, on Facebook I posted a picture of the Lawrence Welk TV show and commented that this brought back a lot of bad memories of those Vietnam war years. Love it Or Leave It. John Wayne and Jimmy Stewart on Johnny Carson trashing war resisters. Self-satisfied St. Louis squares who thought their comfort meant they were doing something right.
Someone retorted that she remembered those years as a happy, peaceful time. Who knows, maybe she still lives in Omaha or Sioux Falls and her idea of an adventure is going on a cruise. Maybe her favorite TV show was Love Boat. Actually, I just checked her profile and she looks like a vibrant, interesting person. So much for sweeping generalizations.
At least for this grouch, nostalgia is never comforting. The distant past gives me the willies. Makes it hard to breathe. How about them Hawkeyes? Mizzourah! Please!
I’m never homesick. When I think of Iowa, I think of fat people watching college sports of television. OK, I know sometimes they get out of the BarcaLounger and waddle down the aisles of the local Wal-Mart. That’s a simple-minded image, but it does a good job of keeping homesickness at bay.
I don’t think I’ll live long enough for Thailand to become overly familiar. So even though everything here doesn’t knock me out all the time, it doesn’t really matter.
geezersabroad 
Sounds a little negative my friend. Here’s my advice. Live today like it will be your last, but expect to live forever 🙂
We are all faaaaaling through space and time. I hope this note finds you happy and well. 😉
This insight is meaningful.
Last week someone close to me shared with others that something that I did almost 63 years ago had a traumatic effect on her and I should now apologize. At first I felt very bad. But– after I’ve thought about this for past 4 days, I am puzzled.
Bev was engaged to my brother. Joe and I are a lot alike. He was in army in Germany. She lived in the country and wanted to live in town so she could get a job. My mom asked me if I was ok with her sharing my room. I said ok.
Moved in. Bev often said being with me reminded her how much she missed him because I was just like him. I scooped her up and laughed “take it back or I’ll throw you over the railing.”
I remember very well we were both laughing hard. We had a lot of good times. He came back to USA, they married. No problems. NOW I hear she says she has always had nightmares about being thrown over a railing???
Point is: I don’t like the feeling. Didn’t need to hear it now. Ask self why now. She did like drama. For attention?
You are right. Live in the now. You are in a good place — body and soul. Back to basics.
That’s my share for the night. G’nite.