Pops won fifty cents

I am disowning the crimson tide. Well, not really. Let's just say if I could put them in a time out corner so that they could think about their actions I would. But it's too painful to reminisce on the past, so I will not continue the topic of Alabama football.

Fall break was this weekend, and I was blessed enough to go home to see my family. It was a much needed visit. Being surrounded my family, animals, and friends was a refreshing break from the hectic life of college. I ended my depravation of southern culture by having chick-fil-a, sweet tea, sweet potato casserole, BBQ ribs, and a whole lot of southern drawl. Oh, I miss the south. Being home made me realize how different it is up here, not that it's a bad thing, just a different way of life. I guess I never fully understood why northerners couldn't understand us. But after living a time up here, I can see that I am from a completely foreign culture. and heck, I am proud of it!

It was funny being home; like I had never left. I went straight back into my old routines. I guess I thought that life would stop without me, so that when I returned nothing would have changed. But plenty has. Adelaide is driving (ok maybe she is a better driver than me...), Angie and Charlie live in Birmingham, and no drama at Altamont (well not as much).
And it scared me.

My Dad has pointed out to me that there is that point in our lives where you are torn between two worlds: innocence and growing older. That crossroad drives you crazy because your mind cannot make up its mind on what to do and your soul wants to be two places at once.
I am at that crossroad. I hate it. I curse it. But no matter how many times I close my eyes, clack my heels, and say "I wish I was home", nothing changes.

Sunday night my cat Shadow and I repeated our past habits of fighting over the bed. Countless times, we have sat on my bed together, me watching movies, shadow trying to chew my fingers. This has been a ritual for many years, and it never fails to cease. It is one of the few things that has been constant throughout my life, even when I and everything around me were changing. Shadow is my stability through life and a connection to everything that has happened in it. Our rite is my pair of ruby, red slippers.