Monday, August 24, 2009
You can't go home again?
The Thomas Wolfe quote "you can't go home again" has been used so much that it has been a cliche. But yet it sums up my somewhat ambivalent feelings about returning to the USA after two and a half years.
Don't get me wrong. I'm very excited about coming back to see my family and friends. However a lot has happened since I left and I fear the reality of the losses that have occured setting in.
My uncle's wife, Aunt Flo, and my good friend Ann Uttech both have died since I left. I know coming home there will be a big void and I will miss their presence very much. Aunt Flo was always very kind to me when I visited my uncle, greeting me with a warm smile and delicious food. She was a very compassionate person and very supportive of my dream of going to Vietnam. I know everyone in my family misses her deeply.
Ann Uttech was a prime mover in getting me back into poetry. She helped me turn my life around and see that dreams could have substance if you honor your heart and put some muscle and work into your goals. Ann helped me reawaken my creativity and find my voice. And finding and honoring my voice, being able to express myself through poetry and writing, this literally saved my life.
I will miss them both and grieve their loss. However, I have a lot of people to return to. I'm very excited to see the many family and friends I left so long ago. I'm also thrilled about being reunited with my writing group--the women who have continued to encourage me to develop my voice and who were with me during some of my darkest days--including the death of my mother. I know that whatever souvenirs I bring to all my circle of loved ones, it will not be enough!
Which brings me back to the question "can you go home again?" I believe that maybe this is the wrong thing to ask. For home is not a physical place, however much we are tied by bonds of blood and memory. Home is not even, to quote another cliche, where "the heart is."
Instead, we carry our home with us. The heart is where home is.
Labels: Viet Nam and the West
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Hi Mary,
Your work with the children is truly inspiring!
My name is Nhi Le and I am currently an undergraduate student at Georgia Tech. I am trying to start an initiative with the Vietnamese student association at Georgia Tech to focus our efforts on raising fund and awareness as well as recruitment of volunteers for the peace villages. I would like to make a visit to the village but have no idea where to start. Is there someone you could recommend to me? Any help or direction would be much appreciated.
Thank you for all your work!
Your work with the children is truly inspiring!
My name is Nhi Le and I am currently an undergraduate student at Georgia Tech. I am trying to start an initiative with the Vietnamese student association at Georgia Tech to focus our efforts on raising fund and awareness as well as recruitment of volunteers for the peace villages. I would like to make a visit to the village but have no idea where to start. Is there someone you could recommend to me? Any help or direction would be much appreciated.
Thank you for all your work!
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# posted by 
: 12:22 PM
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Nhi, are you in Hanoi now if not when will you come? I can direct you to peace village, also several chairtable groups. Sorry for the delay I have been very very busy for the past few months
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