I had to travel this week. I went back to the large metropolitan city I was brought up in and unfortunately had to drive through the downtown area as well. As I was driving down the streets, I found myself cringing. Dirty streets littered with things I couldn't imagine and faces of disgruntled people abounded. I parked my car at a meter and as I walked the street heard nothing but cursing between people and confrontational debates from the gang members who were downtown for court cases and shadowy deals being held in nooks and crannies of buildings. This was all at 9:45 a.m.

I found my heart yearning to just come home. I know that Brazil is not my birthplace, however, you couldn't tell my heart and mind that small detail. I yearned for our bumpy roads and the smells from Dairy Queen, Long John Silvers and Maurizio's that have become such familiar scents wafting through my front door screen on any given day. The freshly mowed lawns and the sound of cars passing in and out of Alicia Reed Thomas' optometry practice all blend so beautifully together during the days I am blessed to spend here in this wonderful town.

My little boy is now at the "Say hello to everyone" he sees comes up and down our street and to every passing car phase. When we were back in the metropolitan area, he would say hello to people on the street and they would glare at him and walk faster. The hurt look that enveloped that sweet, tiny little face just broke my heart. Here at home; everyone he says hi too, says it back. When he waves, they wave back and give him that smile he so adores to receive and give generously as well. He doesn't know anything else. All ages smile and speak or wave at him daily. He didn't understand why these people in the big city "didn't like him or were mad at him" as they scowled at my 3-year-old just trying to connect with them in the most basic human fashion.

I had to explain to him why these people were acting the way they were and I found myself feeling anger towards them for their selfishness. As I tried my best to explain, he crawled up on my lap and rested his head on my shoulder and in the quietest voice he said, "I wanna go home now mommy. I wanna go where people are nice again."

Out of the mouth of babes! As I wiped a tear from my eye, I hugged him tightly and told him that we would soon be home.

As we began to pack our belongings yesterday and load the car, I noticed a slight difference however imperceptible to others. I noticed the more rapid movements of us all packing to go home versus packing to leave home. We were all busy as beavers getting things together and practically running them out to pack in the car. As we pulled away and said goodbye to our beloved mother in law/mother/grandmother, the mood lightened in the car as we all realized we were coming home.

Be it ever so humble...

How grateful I am for all of you in this wonderful town. For with your sweat, hard work, love and commitment, you have made this a town that my family smiles to know we are coming back home too. Home is, without any doubt, Brazil, Indiana to the Meister family.

Karen Meister can be contacted at: ksframeofmind@yahoo.com.