“Home is a place not only of strong affections, but of entire unreserve; it is life’s undress rehearsal, its backroom, its dressing room, from which we go forth to more careful and guarded intercourse, leaving behind us much debris of cast-off and everyday clothing.”
Oakland, NJ — home from 1969-1975.
In Oakland, I ran around in the wooded lot behind the house where the neighbor boys had carved out bike trails. I walked to school and picked fallen apples from the trees in front of the house. I played for hours in the glassed-in front porch with our collection of Fisher-Price toys. This is the house where I lost my front tooth and cooked my first meal.
Valley of Lake, PA — home from 1976-1984.
In the Valley I wandered the woods, carving my own trails. Mom drove me to school but I learned more by reading books in the library and playing with my toys—tools, science gear, and art supplies. This is the house where I had my first period and baked countless desserts.
The places that we live shape us. I am connected to nature because of the trees, stones, hills and gardens of my homes. I recall many details of each house—the distinctive smells of the rooms, the smooth surface of the porcelain fixtures, the color of sunlight filtering through the windows. All of these memories come through in the things I create now.
Home is not only where the heart is, but where the subconcious goes for ideas.
Where did you grow up and how does it shape your creativity?
Posted by kuri at June 24, 2005 10:42 AMI grew up in many houses in many different states of Australia and for about six months lived on the road with my family in a van travelling around Europe. I was homeschooled at this time.
I truly believe that moving around with my family and sharing so much has created friends within our little four person unit.
But you know how close I am with my family and I feel so blessed to be related to such talented and intelligent individuals. We share common values but also revel in our individual talents that mesh to form a strong unit giving strength to the individuals.
My home travels within them and within myself where-ever in the world we are.
Posted by: T on June 24, 2005 02:47 PMI’ve been exploring the ideas of a sense of place and a sense of belonging a lot this last month, too. My childhood was more like T’s because I grew up a military brat. Someone wrote to me recently about a movie about brats, and that sparked my interest in exploring the topic. Two other people I know have been forced suddenly to move from places they had strong ties to—which made me realize I don’t have strong ties to any place. I carry my sense of place with me.
More via the link.
Posted by: M Sinclair Stevens on June 25, 2005 02:23 AM