I can really relate to this. I'm about a decade and a half older than you. I moved across the country at age 14 and lost nearly all contact with my family and friends. This was long before the internet.

I then moved overseas to Austria. Part of the draw was my father's family came from outside Berlin several generations ago. I also grew up with relatives speaking a language I couldn't understand.

I got very lucky some years ago and got a new customer about 30 minutes from where I was a teenager - the place I identify most with for forming my identity. I was even luckier that the stars aligned and I got to take my wife and son with me on a trip. They got to see the house I gew up in and all the places I remember.

I've been back there a bunch of times since (and will be going a bunch more times), but the stars have moved and the three of us won't be able to go again together. I cherish the memories of that trip.