So very homesick for Maryland

[Not Heidi]

Before today, my avatar was the flag of The Golden State. I've changed it to that of Maryland.

I'm a native Californian. I lived in Maryland for 15 years, and I've been back home now for almost nine years.

I changed my avatar because, although I'll never move out of California again, I am deeply homesick for Maryland. There we lived in Waldorf, in a house that was built for us and which was perfect. It was on slightly more than an acre of land. Except for a decent space for a backyard, our land was in trees.

I was introduced to fireflies - glorious! - and almost cried the first time I saw them. They were beautiful, and I'd stand on the deck at twilight, waiting for the first firefly to appear.

I was also introduced to cicadas, which did not make me cry. If we were to enjoy our deck, I had to take a half a xanax, fearing that one might fly into me and land in my cleavage. I happened to live in MD for the appearance of the 17-year cicadas. Oh, my god, they were everywhere - as I'm sure most of you know. Somehow one of them got in through the cat door, but the cats killed it before I decided we had to move.

Coinciding with the emergence of the brood in 2013 was (apparently) the first bonus my DC employer* had ever distributed to staff. Fun fact: It became known as The Cicada Bonus.

Cicadas and DC law firms aside, I loved living in Maryland with all my heart. Returning to California broke my heart a little, but I had to come home. And I'm happy to be home, yet homesick for Maryland. Odd.

* A law firm which shall remain nameless