Lightning Bugs and Buttercream Icing

I remember running around in cutoff jeans shorts with my sister under the Weeping Willow tree on Nemo Road, catching lightning bugs. We used to grab a glass jar, poke holes in the lid and fill that jar with those crawling bugs.

Now, Sofia runs through the yard, collecting as many as she can hold in her little hand and I have to fight with her not to bring them in the house to give to my mom.

I'm sitting in my air-conditioned bedroom typing on my mom's laptop as Jordan fights some Playstation battle next to me. I wear a scarf to bed, and my mom looks at me in horror, but I just can't get used to the air-conditioning, there is no ac in my house in Italy.

I'm catching up on things like Snap Boogie and Anna Graceman, amber alerts and the outrageous prices of everything since the last time we were here.

As I stood in line waiting for my chocolate snowball, I heard the Michael Buble song "Home" for the first time while "at home". Strange sensation.

In any case, we're relaxing. For the first time, in a very, very long time, I feel relaxed. And I feel like the only people who need me are in this house with me.
Home sweet home...