A Little Bit of Home

I've been feeling pretty homesick lately.  I always do in the Fall ... and then there's the holidays, but we won't go there right now.  I think perhaps I long for home because I was born in Autumn on a beautiful "Indian Summer" day (except I was born at night).  This year the pull is stronger.  It could be my approaching birthday or the chill in the air or the leaves turning colors and just maybe it is because I have not been home in a year and a half.  I just have this need to spend time with family and revel in the familiarities of my childhood; though I must also acknowledge so much has changed.  There are just times when some small reminder of home would be nice and then it happens in an unlooked for place.  I've mentioned our new community owned and volunteer run grocery store.  I enjoy taking my turn volunteering there.  When entering a new establishment, it's natural to want to check out and compare the products to see what is available in our store as opposed to those in neighboring towns where we have had to shop for the past twelve years.  Everyone was oohing and ahhing over cheese curds in the dairy case.  I know cheese curds are great, but I also know we are carrying cheese from a local cheesemaker and these curds simply could not be as good as those from the Dairy State.  OK, so I'm a cheese snob; but I grew up in Wisconsin, so give me a break!  Well, the temptation was too much!  Last week when Hubby and I were shopping we had to try the curds and bought a small package.  They were really good and we were duly impressed.  Meanwhile, the weather changed, and a huge pot of soup is in order.  We needed to pick up a few items to go along with the soup.  This time we bought a big bag of the cheese curds because the smaller package didn't last long.  I ladled the soup and, after a prayer, Hubby starts reading the package containing the curds.  He tells me to read the package.  That's right.  The curds are made in Wisconsin.  I'm still homesick; nevertheless, a little bit of home helps.