Oftentimes it’s the little things that remind us of home

It’s six o’clock in the morning and I’m sitting here with a steaming hot cup of coffee writing this blog post.

It’s still black as coal outside, with a light rain gently tapping against my bedroom window. I’m somewhat surprised I didn’t wake up to the first snowfall of the season, as temperatures in Colorado had dropped to 34 degrees overnight. I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to the up and down climate here in my new state, but it does keep it exciting – never knowing what to expect from one day to the next when you walk out your front door.

(taking a sip of my coffee)

Up until now the only clothes we’ve needed to pull from storage tubs sitting in our oversized closet or from the garage (we’re currently living with family) have been light, summer attire. But with such a drastic change in temperatures, even a hot-blooded Italian such as me finds himself on the chilly side.

Today I opened one of those totes hoping to find a fleece or something to help me keep warm. With the first, random tote I opened, sitting at the very top, was a red, hooded sweatshirt with a zipper down the front. As strange as it might seem, I was so excited by my discovery.

You see this wasn’t just any ordinary sweatshirt. This was my “Mister Rogers” sweatshirt. My wife and I call it that because during the fall and winter months, it’s often what you’ll see me wearing around the house – much the way our favorite neighbor used to change from his sport jacket to a sweater whenever he entered his home. It’s one of those articles of clothing that just feels good to wear. It provides you with a feeling of comfort, warmth and even security from the outside world.

It reminded me of being back home in New Jersey – where you’d often find it hanging from the crystal door knob of my bedroom closet just waiting for me. I hadn’t worn my “Mister Rogers” sweatshirt since around this time last year, though I did see it when we were packing up our home before moving to Colorado permanently.

(taking a sip of my coffee)

I know it’s silly to be attached to something that’s so easily replaced; something that has little to no monetary value in the world around us. But to me it’s a reminder of why “home” is so important to me and my wife. Like my “Mister Rogers” sweatshirt, home provides us with a feeling of comfort, warmth and security from the outside world. A place filled with joyous laughter, holiday memories, magical moments and an outpouring of love you don’t often find in the world today.

Gladys Hunt once wrote, “What is home? My favorite definition is “a safe place,” a place where one is free from attack, a place where one experiences secure relationships and affirmation. It’s a place where people share and understand each other. Its relationships are nurturing. The people in it do not need to be perfect; instead, they need to be honest, loving, supportive, recognizing a common humanity that makes all of us vulnerable.”