Welcome Home to IOWA

After spending the last five years of my life living as a graduate student in Illinois, I'm now back home in Iowa. It feels a little weird to know I'm not driving back to Illinois in a few days (as if my weekend home were over). It also feels strangely fine. Comforting even. I'm home. I'm actually home again. When I left for Illinois in August 2003, I didn't know what the future was going to hold. I knew I was working toward a PhD, but I didn't know if I would finish it. I remember saying to myself, "Just give it a year." I didn't know if I would stay in Illinois, return to Iowa, or move to a different state altogether. I didn't know what it meant to get a PhD or what kind of work (other than teaching) that would bring. Now I know more about things and though I'm not sure what I want to do with the rest of my life, I feel strangely comfortable with my decision to return to Iowa.

And so, here I am. Right now I'm still in Parkersburg as Ken and I prepare to move yet again to our little duplex in Waterloo (Saturday's project). I don't have email at home yet, so I'm at the little library here in town. I've been here about 1.5 hours and am really surprised they haven't kicked me off yet. So far since I arrived on Saturday night, I've engaged in the following exciting activities: mowed Mom's lawn, had a cook out with my sister Melissa and family for Mother's Day, and ran errands around town getting things ready to move. Not a whole lot really, and it feels great! Today, I actually slept in! Believe it or not! I never do that.

I've gotten some job offers and think I've decided on what I want. I just hate telling people no, so I'm putting off calling the others. More on that later once it's all settled.

I also want to write more about the wonderful turnout at my graduation open house in Normal and the fabulous family & friends that drove all the way to Normal, IL for the ceremony. I'll have to do that later though when I can also post some pictures. That's a little hard to do on a public computer. We'll have home internet again as on Monday! Yay!

I do have to share this though. My favorite quote from Sunday (Mother's Day): My 86 year-old grandmother reflecting on the fact that 4 of her 7 gradnchildren have returned to Iowa. Grandma says, "Having more of them back here means I can have more of them do more for me." Nicely put, Grandma. Now I'll go mow your lawn.