Next month will be 7 years since I left Las Vegas. I still consider myself a Vegas girl. When people ask where I'm from, I still say Vegas. It's hard to believe that it will be 7 years since I lived there. Maybe because I (well until Kade was born) went back so frequently. Or maybe because all of my family and some of my closest friends are still there.
I started to think of the things that I have learned in the last 7 years...and there's so much.
I learned that those things they called the Santa Ana winds really did have an impact on the weather...and what they call winds there can be considered "hurricane force winds" other places.
I learned of a small town called Philadelphia, Mississippi...notable for really only one thing...if you don't know, google.
I learned "Southernisms" like 'fixin to' and the time span that encompasses
I learned to drive a John Deere tractor...and how to rewarding spitting fire ant mounds out the side could be.
I learned about Neshoba County and their fair...
I learned that Vegas really did have a lot of lights compared to some other places....and how DARK those places could get at night...and how many stars there were in the night sky in those dark places.
I learned about Wolf spiders, cotton mouth snakes and other things I didn't want to run into.
I learned about Tornadoes (and that Mississippi does have them) and Hurricanes (and that Tampa has them)
I learned about Peggy's and that people do still honor a system...
I learned how helpless you can feel when your child is sick...and how much your heart can break when they tell you exactly how sick they are...
I learned that I have the utmost respect for NICU nurses and what they do.
I learned patience, love, and did I mention patience?
I learned how to pack up an entire house...3 times.
I learned how hard it is to make good friends as an adult, how lucky I am to have the good friends I do, and how to treasure them everyday...
I've learned that if you have 2 kids, they will find something to fight about everyday (ok...that only because Kade and Kylee are fighting over a chair neither ever really cares to sit in...until now).
I've learned night launches from Port Canaveral can be seen in Tampa...and are beautiful.
I learned about alligators.
I learned love bugs were not just flying in the air together.
I've learned that all ages between infant to 6 have their ups and downs (mostly ups)
I've learned that marriage is something that has to be continuously worked on as a priority in your life...and not taken for granted.
I've learned that when all else fails, valium is good. (ok...not really, but sometimes that thought is nice)
Ditto on alcohol (ok...might be halfway serious there)
I've learned I am sarcastic...but never to take myself too seriously.
I've learned most of my friends don't take me too seriously either.
I learned about football, hockey and even some baseball.
I've learned that I can be a boy mom as well as a girl mom.
Mostly, I have learned that with family and friends, I can live anywhere and it will be home. I have a feeling I will go back to Vegas someday...but home really is where you heart is. Home really is where you make it.