For whatever reason the topic of my hometown has come up an awful lot this past few weeks. I always feel pretty emotional when I think about memories from home. Especially in recent years when I find myself in the solo waters of raising a family and creating a home for them.
You see I always imagined subconsciously that my children would be surrounded by extended family. I assumed that our shared values and traditions would be based on the simplicity of good living, honest dealings and generosity of ones talents and abilities.
I made judgments that they would become fine young people based on the influences that I hold dear of my parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and other extended family.
I grew up alongside of a large extended family who 'did life' together. I admire and respect so much the times I shared with them. Nothing sweeter that the smell of a BBQ on a summer night, running wild as children in the luscious gardens of my family home, or the scent of dust, grass and cotton on a hot night whilst running in and out of the conversations and laughter of the parents present at a farm party.
We shared as freely with our dear cousins as we did our siblings and endured the endless tennis tournament weekends our parents took or trips out west to visit friends on sheep grazing properties. Looking back, those Queensland bush tennis courts, weekends with friends and summer time BBQ's are held with such fond memories and innocent forced friendships that form the soul of who I am today.
I appreciate so much those simplicities now that my parents gave me, when now faced with the torment and arguments that prelude a trip to the local football match.
I won't ever give these up as I know I am forming memories for my children to cherish later on. What I would give now for one of those long, drawn, out boring days. So sweet now seem the fact that we were thrown together on those days.
I see that Australian Story is now about to broadcast a story about someone from our hometown next month and I feel so sad to be away from home.
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