Home sweet home. There is nothing better than making that long journey back to your roots after being away for awhile.

I know what everyone is saying: “Why talk about going home to the NIU community when everyone goes home anyway?”

NIU has so much to offer students and locals on a regular basis that it would be to your disadvantage to take off every weekend.

NIU has clubs to join, the Greek system, the cool bar scene (for those of you who are fortunate enough to visit) and many new friends to hang out with.

I am just expressing the need to get away from the books and daily stress that college inflicts on us.

In fact, I myself haven’t been home this school year until last weekend.

It started out as any other Friday would for me. Waking up around 1 p.m. from the previous night’s adventure (we don’t have to get into details).

At 2 p.m. I finally was all packed up and on the road to good ol’ Peoria.

Now to most people, Peoria is nothing in comparison to the suburbs or Rockford, but it is my stomping grounds. I lived there my whole life and I will never be persuaded that Peoria is no good.

Arriving in Peoria at around 3:45, a sudden rush hits me. I am home. It feels good to breathe in the polluted Caterpillar air. It feels good to be surrounded by a totally different crowd of people that I haven’t seen for about two months. It is great to be back.

Now, my parents do not actually live in Peoria. They live in Bartonville. I am sure that most of you have never heard of Bartonville. For name sake I am going to refer to my hometown as Peoria.

Back to the story.

I pull into my parents’ driveway and my dog comes running around the house to see who has arrived. After the long greeting, she runs into the house to inform the rest of my family that I have arrived.

It is the typical Friday night at the Plunkett household. By no means is my family typical, but you get the point.

Dad is relaxing in the recliner and mom is on the couch watching television. My little brothers are in the rec room playing video games. The usual.

But the usual is what I miss most. It is nice to walk into an environment and feel so comfortable.

Just as usual as it seems, my parents decide to pull a fast one on me.

They decide to take me out to a fancy restaurant because they haven’t seen me for a while.

Reluctantly, I tag along in hopes of a decent meal. Decent meals are few and far between for a college student, so I had to go.

We arrive at Jumer’s and eat dinner. It was good food, but something was missing. I wanted a home-cooked meal with my entire family. Instead I settled for a fancy restaurant.

This was not going as planned for me. I suggest to my little brothers that I want to get a movie so we can spend some time together.

We rent a movie and have family time. That was enjoyable.

After the movie, we all go to bed because my little brothers have a soccer game in the morning. I wouldn’t miss it for the world. Traveling two hours, I have to see them play.

Saturday morning comes around and we go to the game.

After only spending a couple of hours with the fam, I have to go back to the busy college life.

Overall this weekend wasn’t a total waste. In fact it was the total opposite. I spent much-needed time with my family.

Family should be the number one priority in anyone’s life. Through thick and thin my family, will always be there to support me.

Set aside some time to become re-acquainted with your family. Who knows, it might be another two months before you can make that long excursion home.