Going Home
Where exactly is home? The dictionary has 31 definitions for the word "home," to me the most poingant being:
The place in which one's domestic affections are centered
So when people ask me when I'm leaving home, to go back to school (5 more days, by the way), I ask them why they assume that Northbrook, IL is home for me, still? As much as I love my family, and all my friends here, my domestic offections are centered at the University of Miami. The one thing I look most forward to each vacation, is the day I step foot on campus once again.
Now don't take this the wrong way. Mom, Dad, Jess, friends... I love being back in Northbrook, seeing all of you, spending time with you, everything. It's a big part of my life, and I wouldn't trade it. That doesn't mean, however, that I call this place home. When I sit down to think about what home means to me, a few questions pop into my head:
- Most obviously, where do I spend most of my life?
- What is the one place I long to be the most when I'm away from it?
- Where is the highest concentration of my friends and mentors?
- Where can I do what I love, all day, every day?
When the answer to each one of those questions is the exact same, I think I have a winner. The University of Miami is my home. The Frost School of Music is my home. The UM band is my home. I cherish my time down at UM like a working father cherishes his time at his home with his family, his children. I look forward to going back to UM like that father looks forward to going back to his family after a business trip. The last 3 months have absolutely flown by, and while I wouldn't for a moment try to convince you I didn't enjoy them, I also am not going to tell you that I'm not ready/excited to go back to Miami.
In 5 days, I'm going home.
12 comments
So with five days and counting, I know that your focus is solidly on the future. And if you ask me, that's exactly as it should be at this point in your life.
Love ya, miss ya, bye! Go Canes!
(Just don't forget to regularly call home and talk with your mother!)
So with five days and counting, I know that your focus is solidly on the future. And if you ask me, that's exactly as it should be at this point in your life.
Love ya, miss ya, bye! Go Canes!
(Just don't forget to regularly call home and talk with your mother!)
I get what you mean, even though I'm not quite at that point yet...
I'll miss you in Oklahoma! I'll look back with fond memories of our Apples to Apples game and general nighttime shenanigans :)
I get what you mean, even though I'm not quite at that point yet...
I'll miss you in Oklahoma! I'll look back with fond memories of our Apples to Apples game and general nighttime shenanigans :)
I feel ya. Every summer since I've been in college, I been wanting to spend less and less time in NB. I figure summer is too short now to spend it at some place that is familiar. It's all about going places. Plus, in my case, there are a lot of distractions at home, coupled with the strong desire to do absolutely nothing (when we all could and should be practicing ;)
Oh btw, I was at University of Denver a couple weeks ago for the Rafael Mendez Brass Institute. I ran into your mom and your sister while I was there. It was nice to see a face from the suburbs. I also met some of your fellow Miami trumpet players. Hopefully, I'll be able to find time this fall for a visit.
Anyway, seems like you're on the right track. From what I've read, you continue to be enthusiastic about music and music education. Keep it up, and best wishes for the coming semester.
Allen
Hopefully I'll get to visit you down there one of these days. It's been a great summer with you...we played a lot, ate a lot, gigged a lot, and conducted Les Miz a lot. Best of luck with this semester and see you before we know it! Be sure to look out for a package with the DVD and Baba parts. Take care man. And yes, go where the music takes you.
I feel ya. Every summer since I've been in college, I been wanting to spend less and less time in NB. I figure summer is too short now to spend it at some place that is familiar. It's all about going places. Plus, in my case, there are a lot of distractions at home, coupled with the strong desire to do absolutely nothing (when we all could and should be practicing ;)
Oh btw, I was at University of Denver a couple weeks ago for the Rafael Mendez Brass Institute. I ran into your mom and your sister while I was there. It was nice to see a face from the suburbs. I also met some of your fellow Miami trumpet players. Hopefully, I'll be able to find time this fall for a visit.
Anyway, seems like you're on the right track. From what I've read, you continue to be enthusiastic about music and music education. Keep it up, and best wishes for the coming semester.
Allen
Hopefully I'll get to visit you down there one of these days. It's been a great summer with you...we played a lot, ate a lot, gigged a lot, and conducted Les Miz a lot. Best of luck with this semester and see you before we know it! Be sure to look out for a package with the DVD and Baba parts. Take care man. And yes, go where the music takes you.
welcome back to miami :)
welcome back to miami :)