As I was talking with my ex-husband on the phone yesterday we ventured into the subject of my internet use. He lives in Tennessee and does not use a computer at all, so our main means of communication is by phone. I was asking him about the happenings around my old home town and he casually mentioned that his brother-in-law in Massachusetts kept up with local news better than he did because he is always on the internet. I then pulled up one of the home town newspaper's sites and got a complete rundown on all the latest happenings there. I even found an obituary notice for an old friend that he had not known had died. All of this made me wonder why I had never thought to do this before now. Have you kept up with the news from a place where you grew up or used to live? I will now be a regular visitor to the site because even after all these years I still remain homesick.
[question posted by worldwise1]
responses and comments:
My cousin lives in SC and visits our local paper's website on a daily basis. This keeps her informed about what is happening in our little town. I check it out too because I do not subscribe to the paper. [ElusiveButterfly]
It has been almost 17 years since I last visited my home town, Elusive, and I don't believe I will ever get over being homesick.sad Of course, all of my close family members who were once there are all dead now, but I did have many friends there. [worldwise1]
I recently went to the neighborhood where I grew up and my, has it ever changed.. And brought back many memories, both good and bad..And I also have a friend who still lives there, but haven't talked to her for over 5 years now. I should try calling her again.. [carmelanirel]
Things really can change seemingly overnight, carmelanirel. My last visit was astonishing from the time I had visited 10 years earlier. It has now been 17 years and I shudder to think of how many changes have been made. [worldwise1]
Not very often. I have the radio on while Surfing around the net so I am still updated of the news in my area. We have a local paper that we subscribed to that comes on weekends and it's also a good way to look at before the start of another week. Sometimes, yes, I forget. Only when I hear a ballooning bad news that I find time to check what it is about just to be updated. LOL. [jeanniemay]
Hi worldwise Are you from Massachusettes then? Did I understand you correctly because that is where I live right now. Yes, I have looked up online many of the news publications from places I have lived and it is a good idea..can help one to know what is going on there..is why I love the internet so much world.. I hope you are not too too homesick for I know what that is like. ((((world))))happy xo [TheHairDresser]
No, Hair, I grew up in Tennessee(which I call my home), and I moved back to Ohio in my early twenties. You'd think I would not still be so homesick after almost 40 years, but I am. I guess it's because all of my childhood was spent there and I never developed friendships here at an early age. [worldwise1]
I do not have any ties that I want to revisit, but hubby visits his boyhood home often. We both use the internet to check out particular happenings that we want to go see again out of state, like a Chestnut Roast in Columbia Missouri. It is a fun memory, and we can check on details with just a few clicks. In fact I may go check for the 2008 date. I check our local paper online, and the other area papers as well. [GardenGerty]
My life will always be tied to my home town, GG, because that is where I spent the happiest years of my life. Also, all of my children were born there except for the last one. [worldwise1]
No I don't do that really. A few times I have tried to find people I used to know, from places I used to live on the internet, but haven't had much luck. Nothing stalkerish, just friends I had growing up, seeing if they had a myspace page, or if they showed up in a google search or anything. What I have learned, and this has been a very important lesson for me, is that you just cannot go back. I've been places I used to live, and felt like I stranger. The same is true for people I used to be very close to, after talking or seeing them years later, it's like we are different people, and I guess we really are, because the years do seem to change people. Likes, dislikes and what have you. I suppose I've always been one of those people to make a clean break, and never look back. Well I'll look back for a while, but that fades eventually...past experience has shown me that actually *going* back is not an option. Going down memory lane can be fun, but it can also be painful. [filmbuff]
I reconnected with a family member, and then found her to be somewhat psychotic. My memories and hers are totolly different. She got quite angry at me for something she mis interpreted, and hurt me. Now she e-mails occasionally, but cannot get it to me. She sends to my husband. We cannot go back. [GardenGerty]
I have tried to keep up with my local news from my hometown sometimes too. I have family that still lives there so it is fairly easy for me to know what is going on. I do visit a website for more information also. [stephcjh]
I think, stephcjh, that can be a very positive thing. [worldwise1]
Well since my childhood place is just a ride away my parents and my other brother and sisters always keep me in on the news so I get a bit of what is happening around there even if I don't live there. I love that place and it's nice to drop by once in a while to see what's happening.It brings me so much memory I would like to keep forever.happy [p3halliwel2005]
I very much agree, p3halliwel, that it's nice to maintain some sort of connection to your roots, so long as your memories are pleasant. [worldwise1]
Since I have a daughter who lives in Long Beach, CA I check the newspapers there and in LA often to see what's going on in her area. I've mentioned things to her that she didn't even know where going on. [ctrymuziklvr]
Since I discovered this new site, ctry, I plan to visit several times each week just in case I can pass along news items to my ex-husband because we do talk about once a week. [worldwise1]
I had, like you, not thought of looking on the internet for news of where I was born and brought up. I will go an have a look now [austinbell]
I am not one to always be looking at the past, the future is far more exciting [austinbell]
I was born and raised about 8 miles from where we live now. My husband was born and raised about the same distance so we didn't go far from our original hometown. I'm a baby boomer who graduated from high school over 40 yrs. ago. One of my classmates started a class website about 3 years ago on the internet. Many classmates are members and we are able to keep in touch. Most remained in the US. We know when someone has grandchildren, moves or is gone from our lives forever. It's been fun and interesting. We also have monthly dinners planned for those who are interested in attending, future reunions that are planned and notices posted on the class website. Most recently the class is putting together a cruise. Our high school was large and my graduating class was huge. Thank goodness I've never had the opportunity of being homesick. I am here right where I started! [carolbee]
I did marry a fellow who went to the same junior high school and high school as myself. We dated very young. So both of us being from this area and our families remaining in the area, with the exception of our youngest daughter, we are happy here and don't plan to ever move. My husband and I each have one brother and they stayed in St. Louis as well. It is nice. [carolbee]
I keep up with the latest news in the small town/community where I used to live. They too have an online site, which is great because my youngest daughter still lives there as well as my parents. So I feel it keeps me in touch a little more. It takes me a little closer, now that I live 1600 miles away. [palonghorn]
Not only do I do read the newspapers, I often send links of interest to my sister who still lives there so she can keep up. Due to economics she no longer subscribes to the paper and does not look online unless she has a reason. [Debs_place]
No, I never have thought of doing this but I am glad that you have brought it up! I think I will make it a part of my daily routine! Thanks Worldwise1! [grasshopper5257]
well I have always lived in the same place so that has never been an issue for me, I do know many people who do, my boyfriend listen to arabic programming from the middle east where he is from. [winterose]
I get my hometown newspaper via email. It's not the full version, but I can go to the website and get an abridged version of the news and what's happening economically. Another email I get from the newspaper is a food newsletter with local Recipes and that's fun. I'm not very homesick though, I must be nosey. [whittby]
I would have never thought of doing that. I like that it was your ex, a non internet person, that gave you the idea.Ot makes perfect sense.I am sorry to hear about your friend. All my best to his family. [sarahruthbeth22]