Friday, October 31, 2014

Home Team

come on in
 
Home might be Egypt, Brazil, France, Doha, Johannesburg, Reykjavik, Kansas City, Missouri. A farm, shack, mansion, apartment, townhome or raised ranch suburban house. It could be a field, rink, soccer or baseball stadium, thobe, abaya, jeans, tennis shoes, heels, flip flops, cleats.
 
next big event on deck
 
The where and who is as different as the people who seek it, but there are a few things your home and mine have in common:
 
Home is the person you can't wait to tell when you pass that big exam. It's the arms you crawl into when bad stuff happens. It's the people who love you through the silent-but-deadlies and other aromatic facts of life and stick by you when you're stupid, selfish, rude, dumb, fat, skinny. The ones who see beyond the sweat, wrinkles and belly wobble to claim your wide smile and rosy cheeks. Those with whom you can eat so many garlic crackers that your skin stinks (Kay?) and celebrate engagements, weddings and new babies. Home is your partner for all night pool tournaments, marathon tv sessions and long, meandering walks. It's who you turn to when the plumbing goes out and you and the kids need a place to stay.
 
serving up comfort at 3am
 
Home is the people who occupy the space where you're most comfortable, especially when you're far, far away from, well…home.
 
not seen in Doha: green and rain
 
In Doha, home is a beautiful (ma sha allah!) 9 month pregnant woman who rises at 1am every day for seven days to serve a multi course breakfast to a crazy bunch of baseball lovers. It's a guy who shows up every morning to eat that breakfast. In his socks.
 
 
 
It's lap-sharing memory-making with three beautiful babes. Watching a video about sharks snuggled up close. Middle of the night smiles.
 
these faces
 
movie star smiles at 3am
 
say it with me: "awwww"
 
It's Turkey Central dinners, surprise birthday luncheons, baby showers, football get togethers, souq shopping, sand golf. It's BMD wives' club, church, Fudd's Thursday, mani pedis.
 
at Turkey Central, 2014
 
And, yes, it's the World Series at 3am - home team playing at home - losing with two outs, bottom of the ninth, tying run on third base. It's the disappointed silence from a packed stadium - as fans buy 2015 season tickets on smart phones before the final score is even posted. (Anybody got tickets to share?)
 
Because we may be way the heck outta Dodge (euphemistically speaking; "Dodge" is Kansas; we are Missouri) but hey Royals! you're our team. And pssh. Doggonit, we love you.
 
photo credit: Matt Mikus, http://postcardsandplaylists.com/
 
Great Season, Royals!

2 comments:

Peggy S. Hedrick said...

All that togetherness. Makes me wish Dad and I were in the middle of it too

Charles Hedrick said...

You make home sound like a very comfortable and accepting place. It is always the one place you can go and they have to let you in!
Dad