Four Seasons of Home

Years ago, thinking of home during spring would trigger memories of a younger me, at my grandparents' celebrating Tet holiday with my family. I’d remember trying on Ao Dai at my aunts to get ready for dinner at my grandparents’. Now during spring, home would mean practicing ballet in the living room while my mom calls out encouragement. It means playing piano while my mom makes lunch and my brother dances to my music. During summer, home means celebrating my birthday on summer solstice with friends and family. It means going on vacation to see my relatives and coming back home to my own bed with my own blanket and things. It is camping and sitting around the campfire watching the sparks fly with my family. It reminds of my old home in Vietnam going to the Da Nang beach and sleepovers at my cousins. In autumn with schools starting home means having the privacy to do homework, read and just relax. This is the season to curl up and watch a scary Halloween movie with my mom and fall asleep while watching. On Thanksgiving night, I’d help my parents cook and sit around the table talking about fond memories. In winter, home means sitting next to the fireplace with a book basking in the warmth. Attending evening mass at church on Christmas and then coming home to the smell of warm newly baked cookies. It means working together with my mom to decorate the Christmas tree though we disagreed a lot on it. Throughout my life I've moved constantly, around Vietnam and to Canada but have considered all those places my home because it’s filled with love family and memories. Home is not just the place you live in; it is the place you feel most safe and loved.