I guess I just wasn’t expecting it to hit me so soon. I knew I would eventually get homesick, that was a given, but in October? I don’t know, that seems sudden.
I miss my parents and my stupid brothers. I miss my dogs and my chickens. I miss my room and my candles. I miss my lightsabers and my Funko Pops, and my Legos and the serenity I find in my own space I spent meticulous hours curating. I miss my car and the long drives I take in it with nothing more than my thoughts and radio. I miss the terrible traffic of Jacksonville and Orlando. I have a Porg in my windshield named Peter, and I miss him. I miss the smell of my mom’s cooking and the taste of home. I miss my dad’s grilled cheese and my brother’s sweet tea. I miss fighting with my brothers and laughing with them seconds later. I miss kayaking trips with my family and road trips to nowhere in particular. I miss singing “Take Me Home Country Road” with my mom and dancing to my vinyl in the kitchen as I distract her from whatever she was doing. I miss my dad’s hugs and my mom’s suffocating holds.
I miss Jacksonville. I miss the beach and surfing. I miss my skateboard and falling every time I try to learn a new trick. I miss Moe’s and Chick-fil-A. I miss Taco Bell. I miss my favorite Mexican restaurant; I miss good Mexican food. I miss good Chinese food. I miss late nights at Waffle House with my best friend Jon. I miss Jon. I miss our Star Wars marathons and our anime bing-sessions. I miss getting sushi every day together for a week straight. I miss our car rides and our karaoke sessions in the car. I miss going to movies together and to the comic shop together. I miss my comic shop. I miss my favorite clothing store. I miss hanging out with old friends and reminiscing. I miss smoking with them and then stuffing our faces with Tijuana Flats. I miss Jimmy Johns. I miss Cheetos. I miss the 90-degree weather and the sun. I miss the heat. I miss family fish-frys and good southern cooking. I miss fresh Mayport Shrimp. I miss Jags games and tailgates. I miss my Bold City.
I miss Winter Park and Orlando. I miss Rollins. I miss Rollins’s classes and my friends. I miss Marcus. I miss Disney and Universal. I miss butterbeer and Candy apples. I miss Shake Shack. I miss Rocket Fizz. I miss the farmers’ market. I miss kettle corn you what kind I’m talking about). I miss my Tars.
I miss a lot of things about home, too many to say. Don’t get me wrong, I’m loving it here in Ireland, but I cannot wait to et home. Anchor Down, Tar Up!