Day 9

I met some friends for lunch today. We met in the city then took the Staten Island ferry to have lunch at Nonna's of the World.

One of my best friends, whom I met working in NYC but who grew up in Ohio, was hosting three of her best friends, also from Ohio. I'd met them before and had been looking forward to hanging out with them again.

I grew up in Ohio. I went to college in Ohio. As much as I've travelled and for as long as I've lived outside of Ohio, it's still home. There's something about that connection, that understanding when you meet someone else from home.

They were filling me in on their trip so far and mentioned that while shopping, their sales associate had been from Ohio.

I mentioned how my last night in Calgary, the woman I'd been chatting with at the hotel had grown up in Ohio as well.

We laughed how it always comes back to Ohio.

When I got home this evening, I facetimed my family as I do every Sunday night. It's connection with my family but it's also connection to Ohio, my hometown, and my home.

It's part of my anchor that keeps me grounded and grateful while letting me explore new places and new experiences.

I don't live in Ohio anymore but it is home and "the heart of it all".