It is amazing what a few years and about 40 countries under your belt can do to put things in perspective. I grew up in rural Pennsylvania - in between Philadelphia and Allentown, right on the edge of Bucks County...and not far from Amish Country. When I was a kid, I loved it. We went wherever we wanted all day in the summer and on weekends - riding our bikes around, hiking in the woods, fishing, jumping in hay and riding our horses. We stayed outside until the last bit of day slipped into dark, playing kick the can, catching fireflies and playing with our neighbors. In the winter we lived in a wonderland with the trees dripping with ice and snow days spent sledding with our friends and making snowmen.
When I was a teenager, all I wanted to do was move away from this place. Sure, I loved my friends, but I was so curious about what the rest of the country... the rest of the world had to offer. I have spent the past 17 years exploring the rest of the world and coming back home was somewhat surreal. I saw it with different eyes than when I left at 18. I think I saw it through my 8 year old eyes again - seeing the freedom I had to do what I wanted as a kid. Seeing the beauty in the nature and the simplicity of life. I realized how good we had it and how safe we were. It is no wonder Ava said many times that she wished she could live here. I am glad Ava and Arlo were able to see where I grew up.
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