Columnist Reflects on Returning to Familiar Places

A trip to a downtown bookstore sparks nostalgia for the author's hometown and rural roots.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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In this column, the author reflects on the experience of returning to familiar places, whether it's their hometown, a rural cornfield, or a beloved downtown bookstore. The author describes how these places, while still recognizable, often feel a bit different due to the passage of time and subtle changes, creating a bittersweet mix of nostalgia and new perspectives.

Why it matters

This column taps into a universal human experience - the feeling of revisiting places from our past and grappling with the mix of familiarity and change. It highlights how even small trips to familiar locations can evoke powerful emotions and memories, and prompt us to reflect on the passage of time and our own personal growth.

The details

The author recounts several examples of returning to familiar places, from walking through their hometown of Murray County to visiting a downtown bookstore in Austin, Minnesota. In each case, the author describes how the places feel both new and nostalgic, with subtle changes that alter the experience. The author notes that this dichotomy of the familiar and the unfamiliar is "life" - nothing stays the same, and places we once knew intimately will inevitably evolve over time.

  • The author recently visited their hometown of Murray County.
  • The author visited Sweet Reads Books and Candy in downtown Austin, Minnesota last year.
  • The author recently relocated the Austin Daily Herald office to a new location along Oakland Avenue.

The players

Eric Johnson

The author of the column and a journalist at the Austin Daily Herald.

Sweet Reads Books and Candy

A bookstore located in downtown Austin, Minnesota that the author frequents.

Austin Daily Herald

The local newspaper where the author works, which recently relocated its office to a new location in Austin.

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The takeaway

This column serves as a poignant reminder that the places and experiences that feel most familiar to us are often in a constant state of flux. By embracing the bittersweet mix of nostalgia and new perspectives that come with revisiting the familiar, we can gain valuable insights about ourselves, our communities, and the nature of change.