Homesick

11 years ago, I decided that I was going to take a 

leap of faith and go to a small town community college. 

I had only been to Price in passing while going to and coming home

from the red rocks of Moab.

I had been through Spanish Fork Canyon and
on Highway 6

several times on the way to and from good old

girls camp at Camp Timberlane.

And after talking to my friend, Sandra, I made the trip to check out

the College of Eastern Utah. Little did I know 

that this decision would alter my life's path forever.

(Not to be over dramatic or anything...but it's true!)

Going away to school was terrifying for me. My senior year of high school

took me to New York, Chicago, San Fransisco and Disneyland. I had stood

on the coasts of both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.

I had finally made it in Madrigals and as the lead in the school musical.

Along with that, I was also the Editor-in-Chief of the school paper.

Journalism was my game and I was going to succeed. 

I had friends and family that I didn't want to leave.

I finally had two nieces, a nephew and another nephew on the way.

But I knew I needed to go.

That first semester of school was rough. I had a lot of demons to fight on my own.

I had to rely very heavily on faith.

I almost didn't return after Thanksgiving.

The mere thought brought me to tears all the way back to Price.

I am pretty sure that if my parents 

could have had their way, I would have come home, 

gone to SLCC and go on anti-depressants.

But that was not to be what happened.

The next semester would change everything.

My new friends had me move in with them.

I became an editor of the newspaper.

My new theatre friends invited me to hang out with
 "The Group."

I met a VERY cute boy and was on the crew for a play.

After that, I made it in the musical.

I dated that boy, briefly,
and made another very good friend.

I didn't want to semester to end.

The next year was beyond amazing.

I had a place to be, a place where I belonged.

4 shows, my first Shakespeare roll.

Editor of the school paper and more new friends.

Graduation was very hard.

Now, I didn't want to leave.

Transferring to the University of Utah was twice as hard as that first semester at CEU.

Though I met my best friend, the other half of my brain,

it wasn't the same.

It took some time before I could go back to Price.

I was homesick.

I no longer had a place where I belonged.

Here came another round of heart break and depression

and some very poor choices.

But I survived and graduated.

When I did finally start to go back to see my friends in Price,

I met the new kids.

They became my friends as well.

I even ended up marrying one of them.

Who cares that there is a 5 year age difference?

Not me.

Last Sunday, the Ex-Patriots of CEU

converged on our "Mom and Dad's" house to watch the Oscars.

As I walked into the Ewan household, 

I felt at home again.

Mom was there to greet me with a hug and a kiss,

as well as all the kids that has suddenly grown up.

There we were,

talking, laughing, making fun of each other.

I didn't make it downstairs to see the Oscars.

There was too much fun being had in the kitchen.

Then Dad came home.

The family was together again.

Love and encouragement flowed

like the many cans of Pepsi that were drunk.

And we met some more kids,

and again, they became my friends.

I love that my husband understands all of this.

He was there as well.

We both talk about how much we miss the Ewans

and the simple times we both had at CEU.

Once again, I am homesick.

Not for school work or classes,

but for the fun times that only a bunch of actors 

and tech-ies can understand.

It amazes me that as much as
I didn't want to stay in Price,

I think about it all the time.

It's been 9 years since I was a student there,

But seeing my theatre family on Sunday

makes me feel like I never left.