The Way Home Gets Longer and Longer

And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer is a novella written by a Swedish writer, Fredrik Backman. The story itself is simple. There is no such up-and-downs in the story but it still attracts your eyes. This is a book that I recommend to everyone, no matter you are adult or child, no matter you are businessman or college professor. Please read it and be aware of some easiest lessons in our life that we often ignore.

Accompany is the longest confession of love

It is a simple story. Noah is the main character in the story. Noah’s grandpa missed the growth of his son, Ted, who is obviously Noah’s dad; Ted also missed Noah’s growth. Both Noah’s grandpa and Ted placed their career at first rather than family when they were young. Similarly, Ted missed the aging process of his dad because he was busy with his business. Luckily, they didn't miss each other at the very end of the story when Noah’s grandpa was sick. I remembered the scene that Ted was playing the guitar in the patient room, while Noah was taking care of his daughter, and Noah’s grandpa was humming with the melody. Luckily, they were accompanied each other at the end.

I remembered when I asked my friend, who is from St. Louis, how often do you come back home. She said, probably once a month, to be honest I just come back home during breaks or holidays, I don't come back that often even it is just one and half hours’ drive. I was shocked. If I’m that near from home, I may come home everyday or at least every weekend. When the transportation becomes more

convenient, the ways home seems to get easier. However, we are running far away from home; we always find reasons not come back home. The way home gets longer and longer.

Indeed, everyone is busy when they grow up. Many of us choose to earn more money or get higher position at work instead of taking care of their family. We take for granted that family will always be there and won’t leave us. But we are truly missing is accompany: our parents are getting older and older. When we suddenly find wrinkles on their face, when we suddenly find that they cannot move as fast as before, we may feel sad. We miss the process. Give your family a video call; come back home more often. Seize every chance to accompany with your family because accompany is the longest confession of love.

It is called home

I didn't realize I was such a homey people until I went to here, Fulton, MO, to begin my study abroad journey. It was fine to me during the very first semester but I gradually found that I could not fit in the environment anymore. I began to countdown the days till my flight back home even from the very first day of the semester. I realized I don't belong here. Even though people are nice and warm, even though the environment is relaxing and beautiful, it is still not my home.

I was so emotional and homesick especially during some big festivals when all my family gathered together but I was alone at the other side of the earth. I hate 13-hour jet lag; I hate the fact that I cannot stay with my parents. I miss the food that my mom made; I miss the weather, even though it is often smog and haze due to the air pollution; I miss every street near my house, even though it is crowded, people walk with a fast pace and no facial expression. But it is my home. I know it is not perfect, but I don't allow other people to judge it critically because it is my home.

I realized the importance of home in my heart. The reason why somewhere is called home is because of the existence of our family. Their existence, their love and their support constitute home. I can tell them any of my accomplishment or failure to them. They will not judge me. They are happy for every small step I go in my life, even it may be just some trifles; they will feel as sad as how I feel when I fail. I can pour out all my feelings of loss and grief to them, and they are willing to listen. Their support and love are the reasons why I should become stronger in life.

When I’m walking on water

All my dreams have come true

Still nothing means nothing

Still means nothing

Without you

You won’t feel regret when you have to say goodbye

"When a star fades it takes a long time for us to realize, as long as it takes for the last of its light to reach Earth... When a brain fades it takes a long time for the body to realize. The human body has a tremendous work ethic; it's a mathematical masterpiece, it'll keep working until the very last light."

————Fredrik Backman

We always keep saying goodbye in our life. We say it to our friends, family or even strangers. “Goodbye” is a bittersweet word since once you say it to someone, it means either you will see them soon or you will never see them again. When Noah’s grandma passed away, his grandpa didn't know how to explain this special “goodbye” to Noah. It is so sad that we have to face some sorrowful “goodbyes” in our life and they are not predictable. It’s death.

Both newborn and death are parts of life. We can’t change it. All we can do is to accept it. So we should cherish every time we spend with our significant ones, our friends and family. As I said before, don't find reasons to not go to home. You are not that busy once you place family at the top in your heart. Don’t say that you are regret that you didn't spend enough time with your family when you have to say goodbye to them.