Are family functions the bane of everyone's existence? I'm sure there are non-dysfunctional families out there that really appreciate and cherish these times together. And I do too for the most part. 

I absolutely love my family and I love my home state. In fact, if I were to ever get a tattoo, I might seriously consider getting one of Ohio. I find it odd when others don't think of their hometown fondly. Of course, 'hometown' is a theoretical concept of a physical place that technically no longer exists except as a figment of your imagination. A blinking light buried under the weight of hefty webs of memories. Moments when your heart soared past the clouds, moments when you played bleak music and slammed doors. But a culmination of moments, nonetheless, that ultimately (I believe) lead to you being who you are today. 

That being said, I admit that I have an overly romantic attachment to nostalgia (don't all humans? or at least those that have a twinge of southern sensibilities to them). And maybe I am crazy for loving this run-down, fly-over state. But by God, if I can't claim Ohio, what can I claim? 

Granted, this is all being written 10,000 feet up in the sky as I patiently await my arrival. Reality on the ground may be a nice wake up call. A nice reminder that this isn't the place either. Even though ostensibly this is a meeting of my people, of my family, of my clan -- I will feel like I do not belong. This is not the end to my means. This is just another layover during my travels. Another momentary reprieve in my rolling stone journey. Another train station gathering of my fellow rootless hobos.