My Burlington
When I was a kid, I never understood the joy my mom and grandparents got from going to Burlington, Iowa. They would use words like "memories" and "nostalgia," and I would use words like "boring" and "boringer." (Ok, so "boringer" isn't a real word, but I was a kid, so it works.)
Now that I'm grown up (HA!), one thing I always wanted to do was bring my kids to my childhood home. We have spent the past couple days here in Indianapolis. Yesterday, I even made some new discoveries, but today was almost exclusively a nostalgia day.
We started out going to The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, the largest children's museum in the world. Growing up, it was one of my favorite places to go as often as possible. I would even wake my parents up early on Saturdays after digging our membership cards out of my father's wallet.
Today, I was blessed to share this place with my wife and children. What a joy to see them enjoying all five floors, exhibit after exhibit, just as I had done so many years ago!
Afterwards, probably more for my own sake, I showed them my old church, my old school, and my old house - proof to myself that this is still the same Indy.
I know my kids probably don't understand it now, just as I didn't when I was younger. But maybe there is something to this nostalgia thing. As for now, this is my Burlington. As my kids grow up, I hope to help them find theirs, too.
Nostalgia. Pardon me while I wipe away a couple of tears. I love you, Son! Have fun making more memories with your babies!
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