I finally know the difference between going back and going home

I'm not sure if my friends and I really have more interesting stories than everyone else...

Or if we just create awkward situations that make good stories later?

Or maybe we're just more observant of our surroundings?

Or perhaps we just have cool enough lives, that the little things that happen to us, make for amazing stories later - we're like famous people!

I never in a million billion years thought that I would see Aaron Carter dangling atop a bar in Nashville, and all 3 members of Hanson outside of a beer factory in Nashville, all within one week of each other.  I never thought I'd meet a member of the fake boyband 2Ge+her (hi evan).  I never thought I'd be best friends with some random people off of the internet.  I never imagined myself living in a city thousands of miles away from everything I knew.  I never thought I'd walk up my stairs to see an opossum, and tumble down the stairs 2 seconds later.  I never thought I'd live with a grammy-nominated songwriter, that would stop paying the bills on time.  I never thought I'd make it to The City... but here I am, stopped counting trips, I'm going back in August to see a guy from a Broadway musical...something I never thought I'd be obsessed with, ever.  As much as I tried when I was in high school... I could never truly imagine myself working, and doing the job I'm doing right now.  I never thought I could be in love.  I never thought i'd lose my voice.  I never thought I'd fear losing my friend.  I never really imagined myself with a satellite...but I guess that's good for the robots, right?  I never thought going home would be as horrible as it was.  I never knew going back would be as amazing (and fattening) as it was.  Who'd have known gaining weight could feel this good?

Tomorrow is work for a wile, possibly Yazoo again... then a AAA baseball game.  I no longer "never thought" or "never imagined".  Today I go on, expecting a good story to come out of every experience...good or bad.

And after my visit back to Oregon... i finally know the difference between going back and going home.

Welcome home.