Coming home

I'm in Neuch right now. I feel like I'm home.
While I only spent three years of my life here, they were formative ones. I moved here to start my (first) career. It was my first job and I had just graduated from university (the first, wait no, actually the second, time). I was young, effervescent (I've recently worried a lot about whether or not I've lost this characteristic), and eager to take on the world.
Everything was wonderful and an adventure.
And here I am again, all these years later. The same person, but so very different.
Even taking my first steps in the Zurich airport felt so good. Getting on the train and hearing the familiar announcement over the intercom made me feel more relaxed (which I needed). Disembarking the train in Neuchatel and been surrounded by such familiar sights, sounds, and smells was so lovely.
I've spent the past two days trying to slow down. And just be. Here.
I'm searching for that inner glow that I haven't felt for awhile. It's gotta be somewhere in there. Being here is helping, I think. I feel like I've got this thick layer of something that's taking away the shine to everything. I'm hoping it's just been a build up of some things over time, and these next couple days in Neuch will help to peel off some of the layers. I feel small glimmers every so often, but I'm not quite where I want to be.

Yesterday and today were pretty great though. Actually, things have been just dandy since I arrive Sunday night. In addition to just feeling like I'm home, I made myself comfortable in the place where I will call home for the rest of this week. It's a beautiful space with a beautiful view. I shall have to take a picture of the view that I wake up to. And then I had fondue for dinner.
Yesterday was a quiet day culminating with a walk to my old neighbourhood, walking by my old apartment, walking to the bus stop as I always did and then to a dear family's house for a raclette dinner. And then back downtown for the fireworks (c'etait la fete nationale). They put on a great show. I've seen quite a lot of fireworks recently (Montreal has them regularly in the summer), and this was so much better. There were some really interesting ones, including one shaped like a teddy bear's head!
Today, I went to the market. I walked around downtown. I walked near the lake. I ate a crepe. I also ate yogurt.†I went to Migros. And Coop. And Denner.

I don't want to live here (forever), but I would like to spend more time here. It's a place that rejuvenates me and feels good. I guess that's because it's home.