What does home mean?

[Chalco]

This morning I listened to Weekend Edition Saturday. Scott Simon interviewed a gentleman from New Orleans who transported his family to Memphis. Randy Adams, the gentleman in question, said that his children were looking for jobs in Memphis and would probably stay which meant that his grandchildren would be in Memphis.

So, Mr. Adams and his wife had a decision to make: should they stay in Memphis or go home. Home being New Orleans and the house he said he had thought he would die in. It was without a doubt a beautiful interview but the last sentence he uttered has staying in my mind and my heart. Scott Simon had asked him what home meant.

Mr. Adams said (I'm paraphrasing) "...and it's the place I had to ask my son 4 times to take out the garbage before he would do it."

His words brings tears to my eyes as I type this. Home is where all the mundane things occur. It's where our deepest memories are.

I have lived in this house since 1980. It is my home. The city I live in is not a national treasure like New Orleans and nobody would miss it, but it is my city. This home in my city is where I tiled the bathroom, where I painted the walls, where I decided to have a child, where I got married, where I was a witness to my child's everything, where I am.

In times of trouble in my own life and when I was between homes I would comfort myself by saying to myself "Home is where you are. You are at home within your body. Home is right here where you are."

I wish for all of us to feel at home. :grouphug:

The following, hopefully, is a shortcut to Scott Simon's piece. If I've done it wrong, perhaps someone else could post it.

[bluedog]

1. to me home

is where I was raised for most of my life.I was raised in NY.married and moved to Fl in 1982....I have a home here...have children and grandchildren..but really in my heart .Home is NY...and I'd move back in a heartbeat!....Could be the memories.the sights the sound of Upstate I miss and will always miss.could be the people who were neighborly.....and friends of friends and family,,,,,Someday I keep saying..I'll go "home"

[rzemanfl]

2. My wife always says, "home is where your stuff is." She is not

a materialistic person, but I don't think she'd fare well if her family photos and such stuff were gone. I think this is why she is talking about moving back to wind chill factor land lately.

[Child_Of_Isis]

3. Home is where my family is.

We are a clannish bunch.

[Gregorian]

4. Wow, thanks.

If you only knew. I'm not going to post as much as I'd like. It's only meaningful to me.

I have 65 acres with creeks and a house and a barn. But I don't have a home. I was always happy about me. I thought that was enough. I didn't realize that I grew up amongst democrats. I didn't know it until I moved. Now I'm surrounded by the enemy. I'm very unhappy that the place I wanted to call home became very popular. Invaded and destroyed with concrete. And I left in a fit of anger. Now I'm far away, and my home is back there. And I'll never return. And I'm still not happy about it, even after thirty years. I'm even sitting here thinking about it as you posted this.

It really helps to hear someone say what you said. It brings us all a little closer. And living amongst a uncomfortable sea of aliens, if you will, I can feel a little bit of home. Even if it means sitting in front of my computer. Haha.

Home is where your friends are. Because I've been putting out the trash here for years, and it doesn't feel like home to me.

[Chalco]

5. Trying to put link up.

www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4852058

This is to story's page at npr.org. Maybe someone else could put up a link to the audio.

[JNelson6563]

6. When I was a child

we were on vacation and the thought of "homesickness" came to mind. I wondered why I hadn't gotten homesick and I realized it was because I was with my family.

Julie

[5thGenDemocrat]

7. I've lived here since 1961

Mom and dad bought the house the April before I started kindergarten, and I bought it from the estate after mom died in 1994. It's really the only family home I've ever known and I'll be 49 on October 4.
It is eternal. It is part of my DNA. I wasn't quite born here, but I intend to die here. And then one of the nieces or nephews can live here for another generation.
John
And, when an old friend comes into town, they know right where to find me. I've never wanted to live anywhere else.