Friday, January 30, 2009

home....

I’m back from spending almost a week in the city at a work conference. It was a good week but long and exhausting. Our hotel was right in the heart of Toronto. Each morning I would wake up early so I could walk down the street to get myself a cup of Tim Horton’s coffee. In the darkness of the early morning, as I walked by the beautiful storefronts, recognizing the posh designer names….Prada, Hermes, Chanel…I caught a glimpse of my reflection in their windows. Good, solid winter hiking boots; a functional, well-worn parka; one of Jones’ castaway toques on my head. Anything but posh or designer. A couple of years ago, this would have distressed me….I would have ached to look like the women that breeze so confidently and stylishly into those stores. But this week, looking at my reflection, my ache was for something different. It was for my four legged companion who usually accompanies me on my early morning walks. It was for Sophie.


the view from my hotel room at the conference

This week was the longest we have ever spent apart. And by day four I was feeling a bit low…consumed with a yearning to go home. I used to travel quite a lot for business and had never felt like this. But this was my first travel away from home since Sophie came into my life. There is that old expression that says home is where the heart is. This week I realized that although I always carry her in my heart where ever I am...home is where Sophie is. And I was homesick.

the view from my home....from my heart

16 comments:

Ed said...

Nice story, missed reading your posts. I'll bet Sophie was glad to see ya... :-)

Mason Dixie said...

I hate to leave Mason too. Sometimes she goes to stay at Grandma's if work is going to be demanding, and I hate to come home and not have her here to greet me.

Anonymous said...

sometimes it takes being away to reaffirm and set deeper the life you know you love...

Far Side of Fifty said...

I am glad you are back safe and sound and I bet Sophie is just so excited to see you. I bet her whole body wagged! I missed you!
I am with you, good walking boots and a parka and some strange hat on my head..my gloves might match on a good day! :)

Anonymous said...

Beautiful photos Andrea. We miss our pets if we are away for several hours for dr. appts. It is a really homesick feeling, isn't it?

gtyyup said...

I know exactly what you mean...all that other stuff doesn't matter.

I bet Sophie was excited to see you! Welcome back home~~

T said...

Welcome home. You expressed yourself so well.
I know that feeling, and only someone who really has that incredible love and bond knows the ache which you talk about.

Joanne said...

I'm sure Sophie was delighted to see you return! I think part of missing her would seem to be from worrying that she didn't understand your absence. Oh there's no place like home, is there?

gigi said...

Hey you, welcome home! Glad you are back with your little family. As much as you missed them I bet they missed you more. I bet it was fun walking through your front door and calling them. Good times!

Life With Dogs said...

It's true love :)

Bruce said...

Ohhhh that's so nice...I hope my people miss me as much as you miss Sophie when they're out of town.

betty said...

so glad you are back home safe and sound! I bet Sophie was glad to see you!

I always get antsy to get home to Koda the few times we are gone (heck, I can't stand when we leave him for 5-6 hours to go down and visit family; so thankful I get to work at home :)

betty

Golden Woofs! SUGAR said...

Woof! My family can surely relate to you ... Hugs and Kisses to Sophie. Woof! Sugar

Libby's Library said...

Oh, I know EXACTLY how you feel. I've only been away from home for a week, and it feels like a lifetime. I don't know how I'm going to last another 3 - 5 weeks! This will be the longest I've been away from my husband and my dogs. I'm afraid that they'll forget me.

Glad you got back home safely!

Jan said...

I certainly understand your missing your pets. I missed my cat yesterday because I left home at 7:30am Friday and didn't get back home until 1:30am on Saturday. I couldn't wait to see him.

laurie said...

i love toronto.

but i know what you mean about missing the pup. i feel that way whenever i'm away from the boys. sometimes i feel that way on a regular work day.

it's been seven hours....

we are planning a two-week vacation in may, and i know that being away from the dogs will be very hard.