Question Number One...

Yesterday I got a question, to be honest it's not on the subject that I thought I would get, but it works. :D

"What things did you miss while away in NY (Besides your family, and the warmer weather)? Any small things you've come to appreciate more as a result of being away from home for a few months?"

Yes, there are few things. Some of them are rather stupid & I can't believe that I'm going to admit to them, but I will. lol A couple of the things I will mention are things I noticed while up there, while there are a few that I realized I missed while driving down, and then there are those that have come to light while being back for three weeks now.

• I missed the flora & founa, sounds funny I know but I did miss it. Now I enjoyed New York's display of colors in the fall and overabundance of deer while there & to be honest this is one of those things that I didn't notice until I was driving down with Lynn. The funny part is I noticed it when I crossed the Mississippi river.

We crossed the Mississippi, I looked around for about ten minutes took pictures of EVERYTHING, sighed and with a chuckle said "It's good to be West of the Mississippi!!". Lynn, looked at me like I had grown horns and said "What ever! That's got to be one of the weirdest thing's I've heard in a LOOOOONG time!" lol Yes, I know sounds weird, but it's true!! I don't know if it was the Spanish moss or the trees. It might have been the crops in the fields or the massive oak trees, (I know it was the deer!) but I missed it & am glad to be West of the Mississippi again.

• The pitter-patter of baby & toddler feet. No, this is not about missing my family it's about the sounds of children in the house. I missed all the children noises, and I don't care if they are my siblings or not making the noise. :D A few years back when I was up in DC with my Uncle & his family I didn't miss it because they have two boys & we visited some of their friends so there was still constant children noise. There have been a few times over the years where I found myself alone and have found that I don't really like a house without children noises in it.

• Hugs, I missed the hugs. Now for me to say that is going to amaze my family because of all of us children I am number one in the "Hug As Little As Possible Club", don't ask me why but it's true. I don't mind hugs & kisses, truly I don't! I take them when given to me & give them out sometimes, but not often. I'm just not one of those people who will give you a hug every time I see you, sure once in a while you'll get a hug from me, but it's rare. (If you don't believe me ask any of my family members you care to.) I'm just not a huggy touchy-feely kind of person. But I did miss the hugs that my family hands out and that I occasionally get from my friends.

• I don't know if it's a Southern thing or just because I've grown up in Houston my entire life, but I miss the fact that I know a lot of the people where I go by name. Not just at church, market, and in my goat club. But also in the stores where we get most of our supplies and the local stores here abouts, I was gone for a while & people noticed it & I missed the fact that when I shopped I would know the people by name and they would know my name. As they checked me out or got my coffee we would chat about how their family was and they would ask about my family. It's something I really took for granted before I went to New York, but now I greatly appreciate.
  

• The way people talk and how friendly everyone is even if you don't know them. Like I've already said, y'all is accepted & ma'am & sir is expected. You can stand in the coffee line and not have people think your crazy if you smile at them or say hello. Seeing as it's how I grew up it was natural for me to do it all the time in New York, now it's nice to have people smile back at me and answer with a hi.
  

• And then one thing that I kind of forgot about, rather lost touch with was the fact that we are kind of well known in Houston. Yeah, I know it sounds egotistical, but it's true! One of my first days into Houston proves that.....I walked into the Visitor center at Houston's City Hall & I was looking at the thimbles, when the lady asked me if I needed help. I turn to her and she takes one look at me and ask "Is your dad a farmer that looks like a cowboy, with a beard and hat & y'all have goats?". Uh, yeah we own goats & I think your talking about my dad, but that could describe a LOT of Texans!! lol But, yeah it was us, because she had a business card and recognized me from the picture on the back. It's a little creepy sometimes, let me tell you!
  

These are some of the things that makes my life my life & things that I missed while away. But never really noticed before I left. Now I take more time to appreciate all of it while I'm home...Be it on the farm, in Houston, or west of the Mississippi. I enjoy it all and will enjoy it when, where, & while I can. :D

Any more questions? I still need a little help! :D