i hate this place

Mom was released from the hospital that next Tuesday. I picked her up and brought her back to New Baden.

The rest of week, I cooked. Did the laundry. Did the shopping. Did the cleaning.

It was childhood all over.

Except this time I had no friends to play with.

I've only kept in touch with a couple people from my youth. And they, like myself, wisely moved away.

I visited grandma in the nursing home a couple times. And like any good gay grandson, I helped decorate her room with a new comforter and some coordinating art for her walls.

It was during this week that I realized how much I dislike New Baden.

I used to dislike Topeka because, it too, is a very closed minded place. But at least there are things to do in Topeka. Like go to a movie. Or the gym. Or see some art. Or hear a band. Ride in the park. Sit at the lake. People watch at the mall.

Not in New Baden.

I used to think that I was a small-town boy. But it's been over 10 years since I've lived in a town with a population less than 15,000.

And I realized that I'm really not into small-towns anymore. I want to live where people are. See, I'm a people person. I NEED to be around people. (mostly for validation, but that's another story.)

I need to be around things to do.

By the end of the week I was ready to go home to Topeka. I felt terrible leaving mom, but it had been almost 3 weeks away from my home and my husband.

Head back to Topeka. Life goes on.