chicago is heaven

i love going home. it's such a nice change of pace. everything is happy there. and the fact that i got to spend all of saturday with frank was just what i needed.

i got some lovely pants and a great new bag at the shops i usually go to. but my favorite thing was just spending time with people. it was really fun to get eva out of the classroom and introduce her to one of my favorite people. and then seeing nick and amanda that night, it was good. i needed a dose of home and some new discoveries.

and my dad seems to be really happy. i don't think i saw him frown the entire time i was there. he's been frowning for five years now, and i don't think i had realized it until this weekend. when someone you love that much is pushing themselves to the point of illness it wears on everyone, but the mood at home was so light, and everyone was happy. home finally felt like home again. i didn't get to see tom, but i will at thanksgiving. i can't wait, that's my absolute favorite holiday. i think i just like the talks we have at dinner, and the games, and the smiling.

smiling's my favorite thing.

i wish everyone i knew smiled all the time. then maybe i would smile, too.