Although I lived in Indiana during four of my more formative years, I am not “from” Indiana. So when we traveled back there this past week, I was surprised to hear so many greetings that began “welcome home.”

But I probably shouldn’t have been. Warmth and generosity have always been native Hoosier traits, and no matter what part of the state we visited, the people were wonderfully friendly and helpful.

In much of Indiana, school is out and summer has arrived! We met families in South Bend packing up to leave for their Michigan City vacation homes. Their cars were loaded with beach toys and umbrellas, boards and bicycles, as well as the family dogs!

We spent time reminiscing with old friends and new as we played football in the warmth on the quad at Notre Dame. From there, we traveled south down Highway 31 to Indianapolis, reconnecting with our rural roots.

While in Indy, we spent an afternoon with knowledgeable guides touring us around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Although racing is definitely ‘big business,’ it was a treat to take a spin on the track and hear the personal stories of those who are there not just one weekend a year, but day after day, three hundred and sixty four days a year. (The track is only closed on Christmas Day!)

By the end of our stay, I have to say that it was really beginning to feel like home, back there in Indiana.