“There are places we fall in love with instantly—only to realize, they’ve been a part of us all along.”

I visited my birthplace, Tacoma, WA, a place I haven’t been since I was 2-years old. I never expected to remember it since I honestly didn’t think I would have a clear memory from that time of my life. But, when I got off the plane, and took in the beautiful mountains and greenery surrounding me, I was convinced that somehow, I innately not only remember, but loved this place when I was young.

I can only imagine that little me was in awe of the evergreens and mountainous land. That I probably stared at my surroundings and felt connected to it.

My dad was stationed in Tacoma when he served in the military, not long after arriving in the States from Trinidad. We moved to Germany in 1981, when I was almost 3, but it was short lived due to my mom suffering a stroke. My grandmother, who was a nurse, flew over to help my mom with basic support because the German nurses refused to help my mom. Maybe in their own ignorance, they were convinced that if they touched her, they would turn Black. So idiotic. Their experience with racism is a whole other story that I won’t get into.

A few months after our move, my grandmother took us to stay with her and my grandfather in Queens, NY, which is my first clear memory of home. Although we moved to MD when I was a pre-teen, my dad’s work at Pan Am provided us with unlimited airlines tickets. My brother’s and I spent most of our weekends in Queens with friends and family. I would also visit my school (Our Lady of Sorrow) because I missed it so much.  My mom also continued her work as a court clerk in Manhattan Family Court, which provided me with NYC insurance until I was 21-years old (yes, I was traveling to NY for all of my doctors and dentist visits).

Long story short, I spent much of my time where it felt like home to me.

In my junior year of college, I went on a retreat with the school’s women’s group (Sisters of Light). The retreat took place in the middle of the woods in somewhere on the west side of Maryland. Instantaneously, I was in love with the forest. There is an energy I get from the quietness of the tress and the serenity of the forest that I couldn’t quite explain. While most of the women in the group were scared, I was energized—and I’ve been hook ever since.

West Maryland. Retreat with Montgomery College Sisters of the Light group (1999). West Maryland. Retreat with Montgomery College Sisters of the Light group (1999).

As kids, we spent some of our summers in Trinidad, which is amazingly beautiful, green, and mountainous. I assumed my visits there sparked my love for the land, which I’m sure only deepened it. But when I drove out of the Seattle/Tacoma Airport and witness the beauty of the land that surrounded me, I immediately knew my love had to have grown from this place first.

I don’t remember what little Alyscia was thinking at that time, but I can only imagine that I must have been fascinated by what I saw. I must have soaked in all that beauty—which had been the inspiration from feeling at home in the words, and wholeheartedly enjoying the which later inspired my feeling at home in the woods and my wholehearted joy in the many hiking excursions I’ve been on.

Miraculously—and completely unplanned—my son also serves in the military, at the same location my father was also stationed and where I was born. When he was young, I took him on a few hikes, but his complaints about not wanting to go forced me to leave him out future adventures (I want to enjoy myself). At that time, I told him…

“One day, you’ll go back to it.”

He doubted me.

On this trip—my first time back to my birthplace—my son guided us through one of his favorite hiking trails. I left feeling grateful, soaking up our time with him, in my birthplace, and in the surrounding bountifulness of the mountain and the forest. My favorite place, with my favorite people (minus my husband—who didn’t make this trip).

This was a full circle moment of connectedness. I give thanks for it all.