Wow, it's been a while. That whole "you-never-call-you-never-
I'll be honest, Iowa. I called you "the-place-where-I-live" for almost 20 years. I wasn't wildly fond of you. There were times I couldn't stand you. I'm still not quite sure how I ended up spending all of growing-up years an hour away from a Wal-Mart.
It had been three years since I had last seen the house. Three years since I last stepped inside my home parish. Three years since I drove through town and lamented the fact that no one waits their turn at the four-way stop.
And then this summer, I got to drive through. I got to stop for just a quick minute and say hello. I wanted Ryan to see the place that had been such a huge part of my life. I wanted to drive him past the house where my sisters and I made home movies and biked laps around our old farmhouse. I wanted him to see my old parish. I wanted us to drive through tiny towns without stop lights.
It was weird. It was GOOD.
You see, since I've been gone, I've learned to appreciate you. As weird as it is...you played a huge role in my life, and I've come to recognize that. Without you, I wouldn't appreciate what I have now. Because now I live in a lively suburb with a great group of friends, fantastic restaurants, sights to see, and events to go to. This is exactly what I always pictured and hoped for, but it was hard to imagine it would ever become a reality when I lived next to a town whose movie theater had one screen and showed one movie once a day.
Iowa...I got married. And not in the church where I was confirmed...where I worked...where I began to develop my relationship with the Lord. I did not get married in the church I always pictured I would. But you know what? I'm okay with that. Because, while it isn't what I pictured, my story is even more perfect than anything I ever thought or planned.
Iowa, since we drove though this summer, I've thought about you often. I think about all those people I knew in high school and wonder where they are and whats going on in their lives. I marvel at how much has changed since I lived there.
Iowa...I miss you.
Spending the night was good. But let me tell you what, I don't think I could stay for much longer than that. Because life has taken me somewhere else. Love has led me down a different path. And I'm okay with that. In fact, I love it. I'm just also really REALLY grateful that I can look back and see all the good that you held for me.
As weird as it is...I'm grateful for you, Iowa.
Love, Catherine
