Country Mike Blog

Home is where...

Mike Sudhalter  |  August 8, 2007

A lot of country songs deal with the theme of home. Whether it's being proud of your home, going back home or just, singing about home.

For the first 21 years of my life, Sharon, Mass. was home, but the past seven have been an absolute whirlwind. I've called everywhere from Overland Park and Lawrence, Kan., Carthage and Joplin, Mo., Moscow, Idaho, Manteca, Calif. and now, Stockton, Calif.

But I discovered that home isn't necessarily where you live, it's where you and your loved ones happen to be. That's why I discovered that my second home is in the Kansas City suburbs.

Since 2004, my last visit to the KC area, I told my parents that I wanted to see the world, or atleast any part of it with a large number of honky-tonks and country singers.

Nashville was top on the agenda, and that excellent trip was completed earlier this summer. Texas is still on the list, and I may get there someday soon.

Unfortunately I went three years without visiting my parent's home.

I can't underestimate the importance of my trip last week to KC. It strengthened my relationship with my family and made me appreciate the important things in life.

So if Tootsie's Orchid Lounge or Billy Bob's Texas is calling your name, remember that a trip home to visit your family will be just as good, if not better.

That's the most important lesson I learned last week.