“Home Is…”

What types of images come to mind when you think of “home”?   Why do you think that is?

A few weeks ago I had the privilege of traveling to North Carolina to golf with my parents and younger brother. We’re a competitive bunch so, naturally, there were some good times and some bad times.

I’m  not going to dwell on those times. However, I wanted to share with you a brief discussion I had   with mom that made me stop and think about what “home” is all about.

A little background is needed…

For their 25th wedding anniversary mom and dad wanted to go somewhere special. After some research they located a place called Maggie Valley in North Carolina. They rented a cabin in a “village” and had a rather enjoyable time.

So enjoyable, they continued going back year after year. Heck, one year they even took my younger brother and I. Oh man, that trip is worth an entire blog entry on it’s own – go cart racing & Miss Bunny’s Ice Cream Shop to mention a few things of interest…

Anyway, on that trip with us kids, we discovered “Springdale Country Club”. Since we had packed the clubs, we just had to go play some mountain golf.

At first the club wasn’t going to let my younger brother play – the course was too long and hard they said. But, dad convinced them he’d be fine and not slow up play.

It was awesome!

After completing our round, we learned it was “resort-like”; they offered housing as well as breakfast and dinner. The best part – if you signed up for a package deal, you had unlimited golf!

Where do we sign?!?!

Mom and dad began going there for every anniversary.

Life happened. All us kids grew up and went our separate ways. I moved to Michigan, then Oregon. My two brothers stayed in Illinois  , but in different towns than my folks.

Then someone hatched the idea. Why not have the 4 guys fly to NC and stay at Springdale every year?

So, we’ve been doing  just that for the past 30 years or so…

Which brings us to this year…

It was my turn to ride with mom, which is always an interesting time, but we’ll save that for another blog entry too…

We got to the 13th hole – we call it “The Retro Hole” because, well, the tee box is up one side of a valley and the green is at the bottom with a lovely pond in front of the tee, another pond guarding the left side of the green and a sand trap guarding the right. You launch (not drive) your ball into the air and all you see us a white orb hurtling through the air against a forrest covered mountain backdrop. It’s just beautiful. Oh, and there’s no using the “new technology” of “metal woods” – we drag out and dust off our old persimmon headed drivers from from the “golden age” of golf – thus the “retro” part.

Now where was I?

We all completed teeing off and had arrived at our balls when I asked mom “what is it about this place that makes me feel like i’m young again?”

Her response “because it’s home”.

i asked what she meant, but she couldn’t really describe what she meant. The strange thing, though, was that I knew exactly what she meant. And I’m sure my dad and brother knew it too!

My brother and I talk about these trips often. We’ve realized these trips can’t go on forever. Dad turns 80 this November. Mom turns 77 in September. All us boys are over 50. But until “that time” arrives these trips “home” are happening. The “Retro Hole” will be played.

Why?

Because it is “home”.

The view looking over the 18th green from the patio at Springdale Country Club