Homeward Bound

When I was about the age of my current students (grade 4), on my belly I would lie, next to the Fisher Price record player, in my pink accented white bedroom. For hours on end, I would listen to the tunes from my father's old albums, forcing their big sounds out of the tiny speakers of my record player. On occasion, my Dad would join me in these listening episodes. Heads rested on hands perched on the floor, his mind would drift off to some time other, a time before me. Without fail, a story would follow talking about what was happening in his life when he bought that Moody Blues, or why this Led Zepplin album reminds him of so and so. Those were precious times for me.  My dad seemed to love it that I was into his music, and greater than the music, I loved that I got listening time with my Dad.

Today, I was up extra early. The school-days' alarm that I forgot to turn off on my holiday morning screeched me to waking. I was trying to get back to sleep, but every time I closed my eyes, a tune crept its way into my ears. Rather than fight it any further, I listened in and realized that I was hearing Simon and Garfunkel's "Homeward Bound" playing in my head, sounding as if it was coming out of those pathetic little Fisher Price speakers built into the tan plastic record player. An image immediately came to mind of my Papa-san and I, taking in the tunes together. Home. A sweet feeling of togetherness. Taking in tunes and sharing old memories. 

Homeward bound, yes I am. Today, my son and I take off on a journey around the world to spend the holidays with my family. This will be his first (that he will remember) Christmas with my family. Looking forward to taking my son home, where he and I will be creating new memories of our own, that will no doubt overlap into memories of my childhood and that of my parents' and siblings'. We might even have to break out the albums, sing some tunes and hear some tales. 

I am extremely lucky to be going to our American home this year, where Edem and I will share the stories of our fun-filled Christmases spent in distant lands. Over the years, many people have made our holidays special, but I imagine no holiday will be as special as this one, spent with granparents, cousins, and long-time family friends. Wherever you are calling home, whatever you are doing this holiday season, with whomever you are sharing your time, I wish you great joy and memory making moments.

And yes, the Youtube clip of Simon and Garfunkel was found to punctuate this post.  

Yours in holiday spirit- 

Erin