You Just Can’t Go Home Again
By RasmaSandra
@RasmaSandra (97301)
Daytona Beach, Florida
April 3, 2026 5:00pm CST
I have been writing and writing and then looking for more writing until my eyes feel crossed. I was listening to YouTube while I was working, and this song, “You Just Can’t Go Home Again," by David Cassidy came on. Now it got me to thinking; after one day I wrote over 4,200 words that were part of ten articles, and I could no longer think at all.
Cassidy sings about returning to a small hometown where you know everyone and where great changes really make it seem like you just can’t return because nothing will ever be the same. However, in my case, I know NYC is always changing, and it becomes a challenge after a while. That is different, and I know that the places I long to see are still there. I can still walk down the block I was born and raised on. I also know that in my mind there will be a thousand films reeling because I also took my soul mate to my hometown a long time ago.
I genuinely appreciate this song and its heartfelt lyrics; however, everyone, I am resolute in my desire to walk along the streets of Broadway at least one more time in my life. What do you think? Perhaps I should get an extra large hat and place it on the sidewalk and then dance down Broadway. That should entertain all the New Yorkers and tourists. Perhaps that might become my claim to fame.
The photo is of me in the park I used to love Owls Head Park on what I called my bench in Bay Ridge, Brookly, NY and I know that is still there,
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16 people like this
15 responses
@DaddyEvil (173979)
• United States
4 Apr
I hope you get to make a trip back to your hometown and everything is still the same for you.
I still live in my hometown, about 7 miles from where I grew up on the farm. The farm is still there even though our old house was bulldozed down right after mom sold the house and land. I've taken Pretty driving down the road past where our house used to be and told her stories about growing up there and riding horses and bikes on those country roads.
I thought you might like to see some of my family that I talk about all the time.
Photo is mine. 1982, I think.
6 people like this
@RasmaSandra (97301)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
5 Apr
@DEaddyEvil glad you can still go back and remember. I love that photo. Where are you, and where is Pretty? Perhaps I can guess you in the blue shirt on the left and Pretty next to you.
3 people like this
@DaddyEvil (173979)
• United States
5 Apr
@RasmaSandra I am on the far right in the tan shirt. And Pretty wasn't born yet.
The people in the photo are my mom and siblings.
I can post a photo here of Pretty and I for you.
Pretty and I with friends. Pretty and I are on the left.
4 people like this
@RasmaSandra (97301)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
5 Apr
@DaddyEvil OK I got it, and nice photo. Yes, put in Pretty and yourself.
3 people like this
@crossbones27 (52794)
• Mojave, California
4 Apr
Sounds fun and why not. New York loves when people do crazy stuff like that. You only live once.
4 people like this
@crossbones27 (52794)
• Mojave, California
6 Apr
@RasmaSandra I am hoping there is pretty women with butterfly nets around, Being if I was in the area and all single. 
2 people like this
@LeaPea2417 (39990)
• Toccoa, Georgia
4 Apr
I would love to visit the house and neighborhood I lived in when I was real young, but I know it has changed a lot. So, I will just keep the memories.
3 people like this
@RasmaSandra (97301)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
5 Apr
@LeaPea2417 Sometimes that is for the best rather than be disappointed.
3 people like this
@Juliaacv (55950)
• Canada
5 Apr
I always find that places from my past, especially the ones near and dear to my heart, have somehow become embellished with time, and are not close to reality. I have lived and learnt about that on my own.
Your photo is beautiful, you look so carefree and happy.
3 people like this
@Juliaacv (55950)
• Canada
5 Apr
@RasmaSandra Your mother was certainly a moder woman in my opinion. My mother was a country (farmer's) wife and she rarely left the farm and when she did she preferred that my Dad or my grandparents watched us children. She did not take us on any adventures, although I would have loved it if she did.
3 people like this
@RasmaSandra (97301)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
5 Apr
@Juliaacv ah, yes, the days of youth were some of the best of course, until I got to Latvia and met Martin. Just thought it might interest you; those are new benches put up I am sitting on but on the original long bench my mother would sit with her friends and I was in a baby carriage.
3 people like this
@RasmaSandra (97301)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
5 Apr
@Juliaacv well, those were my outings since we live in an apartment and later when I was walking both my parents or one or the other took me to the park. Here is a very old little photo of us int he park mom is holding on to me and dad taking the picture, Mom let go and I plopped down and she felt sorry for me i was not yet strong on my feet but wanted to walk.
3 people like this
@RasmaSandra (97301)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
5 Apr
@Fleura I can tell you that NYC started drastically changing after that terrorism attack in 2001 so I do not know how things would be now.
2 people like this
@Fleura (34824)
• United Kingdom
7 Apr
@RasmaSandra In what ways did it change so much? I know that I liked NYC much more than I expected, but I was there shortly before that, in 1999 or 2000.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (97301)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
7 Apr
@Fleura People seem to have become more intolerant of everything. Subways are more dangerous, and crime has risen, making people feel they have to be able to protect themselves no matter what and distrustful of others.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (97301)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
5 Apr
@DianneN thank you and you can come over from Connecticut and catch my act.
3 people like this
I definitely would do that!
@RasmaSandra (97301)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
5 Apr
@AmbiePam glad you liked the song; I has sentimental meaning for me.
2 people like this
@FourWalls (86044)
• United States
4 Apr
I think it depends on the situation one left as to whether they can go home again. I hope you get back to the city that never sleeps!
2 people like this
@RasmaSandra (97301)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
5 Apr
@FourWalls just hope in my present nutsy old bat form I don't get lost on the streets of NYC. You don't even want to know what can try to help you in the night but I love it anyway.
but I love it anyway.2 people like this
@RasmaSandra (97301)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
6 Apr
@jstory07 glad you liked it. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we returned somewhere and became the age we were then? A fantasy I don't think even Hollywood had explored.
@LadyDuck (500877)
• Italy
6 Apr
@RasmaSandra - That is true and often we do not need a lot, just enjoying what we used to love when we were young.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (97301)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
5 Apr
@LadyDuck but speaking about NYC I am ready for anything that comes at me. At least I know I can still go to Central Park and chill out.
2 people like this
@RasmaSandra (97301)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
5 Apr
@KristenH perhaps one day but you know the years do fly and then I can return in spirit,
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (97301)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
5 Apr
@JudyEv my itinerary would be do dance along Broadway, catch a cab to the airport, and fly to Riga, but you can say that is an unrealistic fantasy..
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (380201)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Apr
@RasmaSandra Wouldn't that just be the greatest?
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (221182)
• United States
4 Apr
Great photo. I hope you can return one day.
2 people like this
@RasmaSandra (97301)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
5 Apr
@LindaOHio oh, how I would love that,
2 people like this
@augusta123 (10080)
•
4 Apr
Sounds really great.
And you look so beautiful in that photo.
2 people like this
@RasmaSandra (97301)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
5 Apr
@augusta123 Thank you, those were my days of youth,
2 people like this
@Chellezhere (6421)
• United States
6 Apr
Good Afternoon, @RasmaSandra. I went back home for six months in 2013, and OMG! Those days sitting beside and walking along the Delaware River were so grounding to me. I felt like my ancestors' arms were wrapped around me in love that whole time.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (97301)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
6 Apr
@Chellezhere that sounds wonderful. I'm glad you could do that.
1 person likes this
