Sunset from my parents’ back porch. Beautiful, isn’t it?

Nostalgia –noun: a wistful desire to return in thought or in fact to a former time in one’s life, to one’s home or homeland, or to one’s family and friends; a sentimental yearning for the happiness of a former place or time.

I have spent the past few days at my childhood home (the home of my parents). It is not the house that I grew up in; they have moved three times since I went off to college. But wherever they are is my childhood home.

While here, I have eaten the foods I ate as a child (I absolutely, positively LOVE my mommy’s waffles), watched the old movies that I watched as a child (has anyone seen “Blast from the Past”?), and looked at photographs of days gone by.

It is while looking at those pictures that I particularly waxed nostalgic; longing for the happiness and simplicity of my former life. Which, of course, is ironic considering how I use to wish that I was a grown-up, living away from home; a chronic problem that I have which I talk about here. Am I “wasting my days”, yet again?

The trick is to consider the elements that consisted of my childhood happiness: nutritious meals, wholesome entertainment, a clean home, nature (my mommy’s plants are not artificial), and lots of peace; and try to incorporate these very same elements into my current happy life. Which I will be nostalgic about a few years from now.

What about you? When do you find yourself “waxing nostalgic”? I guess I will be pulling out the waffle iron when I get home. I have the recipe.