This week’s column: Returning home

It’s been five-years, but I’ve finally made my return to the Mega-Plex.

I was born in Dallas, raised in Dallas and graduated in Mesquite.

During college I moved to central Texas and Belton where I swore it would be a long time before I would ever consider returning to the Big-D.

But paths, passions and feelings can change quickly – sometimes overnight.

And now that I’ve moved back, I’ve moved in with my parents for a few weeks until final contracts are signed on my house.

A lot has changed in five years.

As I moved back into my old bedroom, which was painted lavender several years ago, I reflected on yester-year.

My first memory of our house in Mesquite was slightly traumatic.

We moved from 8751 Milverton in Dallas to Mesquite at the end of my freshman year.

Shortly after we moved I decided it was time to put my waterbed back together and began the process of filling the large mattress.

But watching a waterbed fill with water is about as exciting as watching an Austin College or McMurry University football game.

So I left my room and went outside to play football with my sisters.

Naturally football took precedence and it was several hours before I returned inside.

In the span of several hours, the hose filling my waterbed had popped lose from its connection and filled the entire end of the house with 1/2-an-inch of water.

Needless to say, my mom wasn’t too happy – until she found out she would be able to re-carpet the entire house for a small insurance deductible.

Now, more than 10 years later, my mom is ready to re-carpet the house, but unfortunately the waterbed is long gone.

As I look back and reflect, I remember the last time I lived at home with my family.

August 2000.

At the time I was 21 and ready to move to University of Mary Hardin-Baylor.

My sisters Amy and Kara were in the room next door.

I remember randomly running into their room while they tried to sleep and jumping on top of both of them. I also had a “bad habit” of pulling off their covers while they tried to sleep.

But that last night I lived at home I remember I couldn’t sleep.

I was so anxious to head to college.

Then in 2003 when I finally finished school, I was so independent I wasn’t going to move back home. I wasn’t about to “bum off my parents”, I was going to make it on my own.

But last night I started thinking about all the “what-ifs.”

What if I had moved back home when I graduated?

I would have been able to spend more time with my family, including my sister Amy who left us at the age of 24 in March.

I might have found a job working in radio in Dallas.

I might have found a job at a daily paper – much sooner than I did.

I’d probably have less debt.

I wouldn’t have my dogs, Payton and Precious.

I wouldn’t have gotten to know David Tuma at all.

I wouldn’t have gotten to know Berneta Peeples at all.

I probably wouldn’t be best of friends with Allman — my former landlord and fellow West Wing nut and wrestling fanatic.

I probably wouldn’t be involved with Christian Wrestling Federation.

I probably would have never joined the Lions Club – at least not until I had many more gray hairs.

I probably would have never learned all I did about running a weekly newspaper.

I would have been able to see more of Amy while she was sick and in the hospital.

And the list goes on and on…

Some regrets, some blessings, but “what-ifs” never really get you anywhere.

So I’m going to stop and look to what’s ahead instead.

I may have an imperfect past – but I have a spotless future.

So let’s see where I go from here.

“But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” – Phil. 3:13b-15