It’s time to break out the tissue box. We asked you to tell us about the first time you called Bloomington “home.” Some of you didn’t remember. Some of you said you’d never called it home. But most of our respondents had at least a vague recollection of the time they let the word “home” slip in regard to their campus house, apartment, or dorm. If you made your mom sob, take comfort in knowing that you weren’t alone.
“I think it was when I got my first apartment in Bloomington my sophomore year, and I was able to call my friends and ask, ‘Wanna come over to my house?’”
“I was at home with my parents and said something to the effect of, ‘Yeah, I need to do that when I go home tomorrow.’ My mom was horrified.”
“I don’t remember who I was talking to, but it was my sophomore year and I was shocked. I always considered my hometown home. Now Bloomington is my second home.”
“Like the day I moved here. It was home instantly. I couldn’t wait to get out of my parents’ house.”
“I texted my dad to let him know I made it back to B-Town safe after my trip home and the text read ‘I’m home love you.’”
“The second day I lived in my dorm as a freshman I invited my friend over, and as she walked into my room I said, ‘Welcome to my home.’ As the words rolled off my tongue it hit me: I live here now. I am on my own. It was wonderful and terrifying all at the same time.”
“I was back in Palatine for Thanksgiving break and I was telling my family how I am excited to get back home. I was referring to Bloomington. My mom definitely called me out and said that Palatine was my home because my family was there ... I made sure to never make that mistake in front of my mom again.”
“Three weeks after I moved here as a freshman. I was talking to my mom on the phone about seeing her one weekend, and I said, ‘I’ll drive up to see you Friday, and I’ll come back home Sunday.’ She was shocked, and I was so happy.”
“Freshman year, Thanksgiving break. I was talking to my mom and it just slipped out. ‘I need to get home before dark.’ She almost started crying.”
Most thoughtful answer “I said it first before I really meant it. To me, home kinda seems like where most of my stuff is, and where I mostly sleep is home, even if my heart isn’t in it. I know from my freshman year I would say, ‘Well, gotta go home!’ referring to the dorms, but not feeling very good about it. My sophomore year, I really did finally feel like I was home in Bloomington, not only in my dorm, but walking down the streets that also felt ‘like home.’”
Best reaction from mom “I don’t remember the first time, but I know when I was on the phone with my mom sophomore year and said I was going home (meaning to the sorority) and she got really upset. ‘This will always be your home!’”
