Things I Miss

I recently struck out on my own.  I am 20 years old and the longest I had ever been away from my parents was one week.  It's kind of cool being able to do what I want when I want, but I miss a lot of things about being at home with my family.  I miss actually sitting down for meals.  Here it's like, scrounge up what I can find and eat it in my room.  I miss coming home from work or school and actually having someone there.  Now it's like I walk in the door, and there's no greeting, no dog barking, no little sister screaming.  It's the strangest phenomenon.  It's way to quiet for my ADHD mind to handle.  I miss my little sisters.  Abby just gets prettier with every passing day!  And I'm not there to pick on her!  Or quote movies with her!  Or do any of the dumb things we would do!  Alivia is getting so big.  I was on the phone with my mom today and she told me that Liv is just learning so much.  She's transformed from a baby to a toddler, and I missed it.  She knows me from pictures and from my voice on the phone, but I'm not there to love her and spoil her and that kills me. 
I know that at some point, you gotta spread your wings, jump, and hope that flying was something you learned.  I just never actually realized how hard it would be to do that.  I miss my family like crazy.  The crazy quotes, the stupid jokes, the laughing so hard that Mom loses control of her bladder.  It's a time in my life that I can never get back.  And that makes me sad.
However, I am enjoying learning how to do things without the help of my parents.  It's tough sometimes, but it's shaping me into a strong, independent adult. 
I feel like a baby sometimes because I miss my parents so much.  My mom is my best friend and I can't go for very long without talking to her.  My dad is hilarious and no matter what kind of day I have had, he can always make me laugh.  I miss my family.  There is no other way to put it, even though it sounds so childish.  But I do.  And it's taking some getting used to.
I'm glad I live with my brother, or I REALLY would be going crazy...  If he didn't work so much it'd be better. I've been wanting to get a dog to keep me company when Andrew's not here.  But then I think about it and realize that I don't have the time or energy for a dog.  Which is sad, because I really want one.  It's a conundrum for sure.  We'll see how it goes...