Homesick or Home Sick?

This week has been, well, a bit of a drag. I caught the Canberra cold over the weekend, which threw a wrench into all my plans, leaving me with a stuffy nose and a throat so sore it felt like swallowing knives. My weekend plans of brunch and hiking up a mountain with friends turned into a date with Netflix and a book. My best friends quickly became a box of tissues and chai tea with honey.

I spent most of the weekend lying in bed, alternating between Netflix and the book I had been reading, trying to escape the misery of being sick. It is funny how time seems to slow down when you are stuck inside. Everything outside feels like it is moving at lightning speed while you are just trying to breathe comfortably. Even the simplest comforts—breathing through a clear nose, a throat that doesn’t sting—became things I missed the most.

Being sick all weekend gave me more than enough time to think. Despite feeling miserable, I found myself getting homesick, missing the familiarity of home. If I were back there, I had be lying on the couch in the living room, watching TV, wrapped in my favorite blanket, with my cat napping in my lap. In my mind, I could picture a bowl of Campbell’s Chicken Noodle Soup—classic, simple, and warm enough to soothe even the worst colds. There is something about soup that feels like a hug from the inside, and I missed that comfort the most.

But at least I was not alone this weekend. Everyone in the family was sick too, so we were just a miserable bunch trying to stay comfortable. Dad was kind enough to bring me some instant noodle soup, which was surprisingly delicious. I even got Georgia some sushi as a way to lift our spirits a bit, and even Bella, their dog, would cuddle with me for a while.

As the weekend passed, it struck me that “home” is not just a place—it is a feeling of comfort, warmth, and familiarity. Maybe I was more “home sick” than simply homesick. The experience reminded me of how those small comforts—a favorite couch, a cozy blanket, and the soothing simplicity of chicken noodle soup—can make being unwell just a little more bearable. Sometimes, being under the weather makes us pause and appreciate the everyday things that bring us peace. And while this weekend wasn’t what I had planned, it gave me a small dose of gratitude for those quiet comforts that, even in this home away from home, make all the difference when we need them most.