When the Landscape Changes

By Cynthia Herron @C_herronauthor

“Where we love is home—home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts.” ~ Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

This beautiful quote strikes such a poignant chord. “Home” and all that word encompasses evokes both warmth and yearning as I fondly recall my childhood growing up in the hills and hollows of the Ozarks along Old Route 66.

As a little girl, I couldn’t fully appreciate the magnificent region where I lived. As kids so often do, I lived only in the moment, aware of a couple things. Important things like life seemed fun and full of adventure. Every day brought new insights. For instance, our little hamlet was as tight
as a jelly jar lid, teeming with an eclectic and lovable group of humans. I also knew and appreciated the turn of each season with fall being my absolute favorite. And too, I grasped though our family wasn’t materially wealthy, our home burst at the seams with unconditional
love…and tons of Mama's fried chicken and homemade preserves.

I grew up with a sense of balance and self-worth, and although flawed in some ways as most families are, I understood the beauty and blessing of my upbringing. Home was a source of comfort and appeal.

This is the place I write from. It’s the place I can revisit in my mind through my stories and characters.

Fast-forward many years to present day.

Several months ago, my husband and I did the unthinkable. We moved from our beloved Missouri Ozarks to the great state of Indiana, beautiful and scenic, with lots to explore and discover. We moved to be near our favorite “little,” the only reason we’d ever consider a move of
this magnitude.

Do I miss home? You bet! At times, waves of homesickness hit out of the blue. I miss all that was familiar. I especially miss those I left behind. I also miss my local writing group—the connection and support of like-minded friends who began this writing journey with me so long ago.

However, I continue writing, having released my fourth novel over the summer, and we are forming new friendships as we adjust to big city living and the place we now call “home.” I’ve learned that even as circumstances change and evolve, the fabric of who we are remains intact.
Our heritage cannot be tamped out, nor can the bonds of fellowship be severed because of geographic distance. We simply find additional ways to communicate, and we anticipate future writing conferences where we can hug again in person!

I understand there are several writing friends in Indiana, so to all my fellow Hoosiers, I raise my coffee mug. Please reach out—I’d love to connect (especially if you’re in the Indianapolis region). Bonus points if you can offer tips regarding the “roundabouts” here.

While I’m still in the adjustment phase of our very different lives, each day brings something fresh and wonderful. I’m enjoying fall in this area of the Midwest, and I look forward to birthing more stories from memories of yesteryear and from those experiences yet to unfold.

If you’ve ever uprooted from a lifelong home and transitioned to a new area, please share your thoughts. Did you find your writing patterns changed? Anything that made the process a bit easier?

As an avid encourager and lover of the underdog, Cynthia Herron writes Heartfelt, Homespun Fiction from the beautiful Midwest. She is the author of Her Hope Discovered and the award-winning Welcome to Ruby series. Her work is represented by WordServe Literary. Connect with “Cindy” on X, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.