Over the Independence Day holiday my son and I went back to visit my parents in Illinois. I had not been back in more than five years so it was really good to visit. I haven’t been avoiding the trip home, it just didn’t happen. When I first joined the Navy in 1988, I made regular trips back home almost twice a year. As I began to settle down and make a home for myself in San Diego, my visits became fewer and farther between. Going “home” didn’t have the same meaning anymore.

It was a great trip. We spent a lot of time with my parents and saw relatives that we hadn’t seen in almost 15 years. We got together with old friends and their families and really just had a good time visiting, joking, laughing and reminiscing.

In some ways, the city has grown up quite a bit. Places that used to seem so far away are just a short drive away. The city has invested heavily in the river front, turning Sinnissippi Park and Gardens into a beautiful area. At the same time, there are portions of the main street running through town that look exactly like it did 25 years ago.

It’s a much slower pace of life out there. A pace that I long to return to, but not yet. All in all, it was a great trip. It won’t be five years before I go back again, and we’re already talking about having my parents come out to San Diego for a visit early next year.