No place like home

The normal progression of life in Southeast Missouri as I have noticed it seems to be "Well, I was born here, went to school here. I left for (insert random college town or entry-level job here) and now I'm back here."

No matter where they go or what they're doing, people just come back here.

Some to stay, like Melissa Miller, executive director of the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri, who was born and raised in Jackson, moved away for a job and is now back in her hometown.

But many more just come home to visit and show off -- in a good way, of course.

Liesl Schoenberger has played in Carnegie Hall and is an Artist Diploma Candidate at Yale University, but she still plays in Rude Dog and Shuck Recital Hall. She comes back to Cape Girardeau to play two to three times a year, one of which is Dec. 20, when she'll play with the Grace United Methodist Church for its handbell concert.

Two brothers from Bollinger County took a drive to see Woodstock in New York and ended up staying there. Brandon and Ben Tallent even lured Southeast Missouri pal Brian Miinch to join them. But, you guessed it, they're back in town this weekend and playing a concert today at Buckner Brewing Co.

Van Gogh's Ear, whose principal member Eric Dahl moved to Las Vegas in 2001, played a show in August, when Dahl was visiting Cape Girardeau. He'll be back next week and -- you guessed it -- will reunite with the other members of VGE for a concert Dec. 19 at Stooges in Jackson.

I don't know if it's loyalty to hometown fans or a longing for their family, but something keeps bringing people back here. Whatever it is, I'm just glad the artistic ones always decide to put on a show.