Flickr, Thomas Tolkien

As a wanderer of the Tolkien ilk (Not all those who wander are lost), the trip that perplexes me is returning to my childhood home.

It’s a long strange trip, full of forgotten emotions … and anxieties – depending on current circumstances. Many times, the town itself is dark and used, old and frail, rundown.

Not this time, though.

My hometown is looking spiffy.

Seeing my family again is heartwarming.

Reconnecting with good friends after quite a few years is making the difference.