Day 169: Missing Home

For some reason, I've really been missing home lately. No, I'm not homesick, but just in the past day or so I've really been wishing that I could be at home right now. Not to live, but just for a visit. This was prompted mainly by a series of photos that my sister put up online for her friends and family to see. My sister Janelle just came back from a two week trip home to Thunder Bay, and while she had been visiting there the family had thrown a huge party out at the family camp (cabin, cottage, whatever your particular term is) on Shebandowan. It was a theme party - Hawaiian Luau - and it was great to see the whole fam (including Kayla, our golden retriever) dressed up in Hawaiian tropical gear, leies around their necks and all.

Janelle had a really great shot of her with Mom and Dad all dressed up and suddenly I really, really wished that I could've been there. I don't miss living in Thunder Bay, but I do really miss being so close to my family. We still talk often (almost weekly) which is pretty cool considering how far away I live, but I miss being able to physically spend time with them. It's those little random everyday moments together that I miss the most. Having dinners together, relaxing at camp or at home, family BBQ's, boat trips up the lake, watching TV together, stuff like that.

I can't really whine cause I knew what I was signing up for when I came to Korea (being away from my friends and family in Canada for a very long time) but I still can't help missing them all once in a while. And knowing that I won't see my sister or parents until Christmas 2005 makes it kinda hard too. By the time I see them again it will have been *two full years* since I had seen them last. TWO YEARS! I was 25 when I saw them last and the next time I see them I'll be 27 years old. That's crazy!

Like I said, I don't miss living there, I just wish that I could 'drop in' for weekends or evenings here and there. Someone *really* needs to invent some kind of instant transportation device, so that I can 'beam' myself to Thunder Bay, Vancouver, or wherever every now and then. To go home in today's reality involves at least 13-17 hours of flying and well over a thousand dollars. I don't have the time or the money to do that. I just sometimes feel like time is passing by so quickly and that I'm missing so much quality family time at home. Ahh well, again, that's the price you pay for going out and pursuing your dream, eh?

This was compounded when later that day I chatted with a couple of my friends in Vancovuer. I had spotted Henry online on Messenger so I decided to give him a ring so we could chat for a bit. Turns out there was a big gang of them about to go out and celebrate the Fireworks/Pride/Long Weekend/Summer Heat festivities in Vancouver. Even my two buddies Toby & Stephen were up from Seattle and I totally wished that I could've been there to go out and party with them! *sigh*

It's not like I'm suffering here in Korea, that's for sure! I'm having the time of my life, no doubt about it! Maybe there's a way that I can clone myself so that I *can* be in two places at once! I could have Asia Scotty and then Canada Scotty! This way I get to enjoy the best of both worlds! Hell, if I'm going to make a second Scotty I may as well make a third, fourth, fifth and more! I could have Euro Scotty, Aussie Scotty, Latin Scotty, Permanent Nomadic Globetrotter Scotty, Academic Scotty (ringing up several PhD's just for fun), and Workaholic Scotty (someone's gotta pay for the lifestyles of all the other Scotty's!)

Wow, now *that* would be a busy and crowded and confusing family reunion, eh? ;-)