In the early, early morning at 5am i begin my first journey back to the midwest after being gone for almost 6 months. This is surely my longest stretch without going home. It's been rough, it's been sad and it's been good. All in all, it's a growing experience. Still hard to tell whether I fel bad about it or if I feel I've made some progress. That part probably comes when you walk through your mom's door again. I can safely say that all the bullshit (for lack of a better term) that has always surrounded going back home for holidays has been lifted. I am not dreading it, I look forward to it. There's been a filtering of what's important and what's not. There are so many people that I want to spend time with. I can't wait.