Chez mes parents

Its interesting being back in Macomb, the place where I grew up but isn't really my home anymore. I love my family and knowing where things are in Macomb, but its not a place I would want to live. I hate that I have to drive if I want to go to places like the bank or post office, and that people look at you like you're crazy or you must be poor if you walk/ride a bike. I hate that all of the trees have been cut down to build new homes and that my subdivision looks empty because the trees there were cut too due to "diseases." All of the cookie cutter homes that have been built have created horrible traffic and people that want to get everywhere the fastest way possible in their SUV's. Almost all of the restaurants and stores are chains and public transportation basically doesn't exist even though many people work in the city of Detroit. All of this is the reason I want to stay with Chris and my friends in Grand Rapids, not to hurt the feelings of my family, but because there is still somewhat of a downtown and a community there. I can still walk along the river and ride my bike to do my chores. Sure there is suburban sprawl there too, as there is everywhere in the US, but the city seems to be on a comeback. It will just be sad to spend more time away from my family after being gone so long. I can't believe how fast my nieces have grown, it seems like almost without me, and it made me tear up when Mya walked up to me at the airport with a big toothy smile. Hopefully I will still be able to see a lot of them this summer.