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Who said you can’t go home again?  Maybe someone who did not enjoy traveling!  Let me inform you, it’s worth the trip.   There is no telling what you will find or who you will see.

I moved to Georgia when I was fifteen years old.  I didn’t want to leave my Tennessee friends and family.  However, an unexpected opportunity presented itself to Dad that outweighed my whines and worries. 

To a teenager, Georgia seemed a million scary miles away, and surely, it would doom my life.  As I waved goodbye to my old friends, I never considered that I might not see them again.  Thank the good Lord it didn’t because I would have let the air out of the moving van’s tires! 

After a very short time, I fell madly in love with LaGrange, Georgia.   Every corner presented a new opportunity to forge relationships.  As the ‘new girl’ in school, I was fortunate to meet folks who welcomed me with open arms.  Most of those who graduated with me are still my close friends today.  After sixty years, our LaGrange High class is as spectacular as it was then, a testament to the enduring nature of friendships. 

For many years, I wanted to return to the town that defined my childhood.  It took me sixty-three years to finally see the road sign reading, “McMinnville City Limits.”

My old friend Bobby greeted me as I walked toward his door.  I could still see the same teenage boy hiding behind his gray hair and other silly, annoying signs of age.  But the spirit of the boy was the same.  All the experiences, education, success, and ups and downs of living had not erased the young man away.  If we try, age doesn’t need to obliterate our youth.

We spent hours reminiscing about our school days, sharing stories of our lives since we last met, and catching up on each other’s families.

We went to lunch, where two other friends joined us.  I played with Leigh while our mothers played bridge in the 1950s.  When she walked through the café’s door, I recognized her immediately.  She had the same youthful face, blue eyes, and slightly wavy blonde hair. 

Mary, who sat across from me, had kept her infectious smile and vibrant spirit.  She was full of joy and a pleasure to be around.  Years seemed to fade away in just a moment as we reminisced about our school days and summer memories together.

In those early McMinnville days, we lived in a small brick house on a long, straight street full of kids and bikes.  Bobby said, “Do you want to ride down Ben Lomond Drive?”

Even though some of the houses had been renovated, they were so familiar that I began to name all the friends and families who once called them home.  I was amazed how the memories of meeting pals at Barbara’s or gathering in Pauleese’s backyard flooded back. 

“Do you remember your house number?” Bobby asked. 

“213,” I quickly answered, and suddenly we were there.  It had not changed at all.  I could see Dad in the front yard raking leaves as Mom stood with her apron around her waist at the front door, calling him to lunch. 

I will never know why I didn’t go back sooner, but I am glad I finally did.  When we return to those places and people who shaped who we are, there is a sense of thankfulness that is hard to express.  Not everyone has pleasant childhood memories, but the good times outweighed the bad for me. 

This experience taught me the importance of cherishing our past, staying connected with our roots, and appreciating the people who have influenced our lives. 

As we grow older, reuniting with those we have missed becomes increasingly meaningful.  Whether it is family, friends, or a place we long to see, we should run back before time slips away and memories fade.

People ask me why I enjoy studying genealogy or why I try to keep family close.  The answer is easy: Each person who is or was in our lives is always worth holding in our hearts.  It is worth passing down their importance and appreciating who they were. 

From my long-lost ancestors to the friends and family I have today, I know God put me on their path.  Even if I only briefly crossed their lives, the value of finding and taking the time to reconnect with them is priceless.

Yes, we can return home.   No matter the time or place, it is still there, waiting patiently.  The friends and family we thought we had lost have never truly left, and many will happily greet you as you walk down the path to their door.