Whenever I get home to my mother's house in Wadworth, Ohio, we pass a lot of time sitting on the front porch. Most places I live in don't even have front porches, so front porch sitting tends to be a vacation activity for me. Too bad, because it is quite enjoyable. People pass by walking their dogs or their kids and always say hello. I don't get by here very often, but whenever I do, I can count on the fact that I will be able to see the neighbors and catch up on the news. It helps to tie together the gaps that I create through my long absences.
This evening an old friend stopped by and we spent the evening playing our guitars and singing... on the front porch, of course. There is just nothing like old friends, and old songs. Hours pass easily, and at some point the past and the present are sewn together seamlessly, as if we saw each other every day. That's when you know you are home, in a place where you have roots.