---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Maybe this was what Aunt Peg meant all…"
description: "\"“Maybe this was what Aunt Peg meant all along - returning was a weird thing. You can never visit the same place twice. Each time, it's a different stor..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4c/maureen-johnson-1282_change_maybe-this-was-what-aunt-peg-meant-all-a_2110962.jpg"
---

#  Maybe this was what Aunt Peg meant all along - returning…

![“Maybe this was what Aunt Peg meant all along - returning was a weird thing. You can never visit the same place twice. Each time, it's a different story. By the very act of coming back, you wipe our what came before.” quote by Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4c/maureen-johnson-1282_change_maybe-this-was-what-aunt-peg-meant-all-a_2110962.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4c/maureen-johnson-1282_change_maybe-this-was-what-aunt-peg-meant-all-a_2110962.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4c/maureen-johnson-1282_change_maybe-this-was-what-aunt-peg-meant-all-a_2110962.jpg)

> ““Maybe this was what Aunt Peg meant all along - returning was a weird thing. You can never visit the same place twice. Each time, it's a different story. By the very act of coming back, you wipe our what came before.””

[Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Returning changes perception; each revisit creates a new narrative, erasing the previous experience.

**In simple terms:** Going back rewrites the story.

Key Takeaway

Embrace change when revisiting.

Themes

memory change perception

Mood

reflective nostalgic

Type

philosophical literary

When to use this quote

- travel
- family reunions
- personal growth
- revisiting places

Key Concepts

identity narrative temporality

Questions to Reflect On

- How does revisiting a place alter your memory?
- What new story emerges each return?

A Different Perspective

The past cannot be fully erased, only reinterpreted.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/)

## Related quotes

> [I could see the point of Brexit if it meant returning power to the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-monbiot/i-could-see-the-point-of-brexit-if-it-meant-returning-power-to-the/)

[George Monbiot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-monbiot/)

> [This kind of thing always amazed Ginny--people who just walked away from institutions. People who left school when they didn't see the point. Aunt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/this-kind-of-thing-always-amazed-ginny-people-who-just-walked-away/)

[Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/)

> [“Maybe your aunt is funny in quiet moments with her friends because like many women her age, she was taught to not draw attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-kamau-bell/maybe-your-aunt-is-funny-in-quiet-moments-with-her-friends-because/)

[W. Kamau Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-kamau-bell/)

> [Maybe! Maybe! Maybe if your aunt had a beard, she'd be your uncle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvah-bessie/maybe-maybe-maybe-if-your-aunt-had-a-beard-she-d-be-your-uncle/)

[Alvah Bessie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvah-bessie/)

> [You can never visit the same place twice. Each time, its a different story. By the very act of coming back, you wipe out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/you-can-never-visit-the-same-place-twice-each-time-its-a-different/)

[Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/)

> [You can never visit the same place twice. Each time, it's a different story. By the very act of coming back, you wipe out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/you-can-never-visit-the-same-place-twice-each-time-it-s-a-different/)

[Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/)

> [Do not pity the dead, Harry. Pity the living, and, above all, those who live without love. By returning, you may ensure that fewer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albus-dumbledore/do-not-pity-the-dead-harry-pity-the-living-and-above-all-those-who/)

[Albus Dumbledore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albus-dumbledore/)

> [“The strangest thing about returning to an enclave that encapsulated your youth is that you feel like nothing should have changed. Like you still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-winn-scotch/the-strangest-thing-about-returning-to-an-enclave-that-encapsulated/)

[Allison Winn Scotch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-winn-scotch/)

> [DWYCK' was only intended to be a B-side of 'Take It Personal,' because we had done a record with Nice &amp; Smooth for their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dj-premier/dwyck-was-only-intended-to-be-a-b-side-of-take-it-personal-because-we/)

[DJ Premier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dj-premier/)

> [“Whenever a river reaches the ocean, it waits to go back..”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-advise/whenever-a-river-reaches-the-ocean-it-waits-to-go-back/)

Will Advise

> [I don't want to say PSG is a step backwards, but It would be returning to something I already know. I'm always in for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eden-hazard/i-don-t-want-to-say-psg-is-a-step-backwards-but-it-would-be-returning/)

[Eden Hazard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eden-hazard/)

> [I would never say never to returning to comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-bana/i-would-never-say-never-to-returning-to-comedy/)

[Eric Bana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-bana/)

> [“Every second and every minute of the clock, we are getting closer and closer to our various destinations.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/every-second-and-every-minute-of-the-clock-we-are-getting-closer-and/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“Returning back to self is a daily, intentional act. The world will attempt to pull you in many different directions. You've got to choose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-alves/returning-back-to-self-is-a-daily-intentional-act-the-world-will/)

Ash Alves

> [Absolute is a game with only one player where Absolute forgets itself so it would have a reason to fulfill the motion while returning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/absolute-is-a-game-with-only-one-player-where-absolute-forgets-itself/)

[Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/)

## More by Maureen Johnson

> [“Knowledge is the heaviest weight of all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/knowledge-is-the-heaviest-weight-of-all/)

[Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/)

> [There is no normal. I've never met a normal person. The concept is flawed. It implies that there is only one way people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/there-is-no-normal-i-ve-never-met-a-normal-person-the-concept-is/)

[Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/)

> [I may have been a complete lunatic, but I was a complete lunatic with manners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/i-may-have-been-a-complete-lunatic-but-i-was-a-complete-lunatic-with/)

[Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/)

> [This kind of thing always amazed Ginny--people who just walked away from institutions. People who left school when they didn't see the point. Aunt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/this-kind-of-thing-always-amazed-ginny-people-who-just-walked-away/)

[Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/)

> [Did you hear?" he asked. "They found another body around nine this morning. It's the Ripper, definitely." "Good morning," I replied. "Morning. Listen to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/did-you-hear-he-asked-they-found-another-body-around-nine-this/)

[Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/)

> [She was standing in the airport of Copenhagen, staring at a doorway, trying to figure out if it was (a) a bathroom and (b)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/she-was-standing-in-the-airport-of-copenhagen-staring-at-a-doorway/)

[Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/)

> [When I worked in theater, I was always writing things on Post-it Notes and sticking them on screens or desks. Twitter has given me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/when-i-worked-in-theater-i-was-always-writing-things-on-post-it-notes/)

[Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/)

> [She had always thought applying to college would be exciting. Living away from home, meeting so many new people, Learning new things, making a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/she-had-always-thought-applying-to-college-would-be-exciting-living/)

[Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/)

> [“Vitamin D,” Stevie said. “You need it.” “You don’t know that,” he said. “I want to eat my meat in my room with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/vitamin-d-stevie-said-you-need-it-you-don-t-know-that-he-said-i-want/)

[Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/)

> [No one hid their interest when I walked into the room. I'm not sure if it was the news about Boo or my general…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/no-one-hid-their-interest-when-i-walked-into-the-room-i-m-not-sure-if/)

[Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/)

> [You'd been petting a stuffed dog?' she said 'A dead one?' 'It was a really well stuffed dog' I clarified. 'I have seen some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/you-d-been-petting-a-stuffed-dog-she-said-a-dead-one-it-was-a-really/)

[Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/)

> [“When she emerged, Keith was watching the tiny round window of the under-the-counter washing machine. "Put your clothes in for a wash," he said.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/when-she-emerged-keith-was-watching-the-tiny-round-window-of-the/)

[Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/)

> [“For you, there is underage, and then, there is underage. I believe a taste of wine is perfectly acceptable, but please stick to one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/for-you-there-is-underage-and-then-there-is-underage-i-believe-a/)

[Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/)

> [Rory: "People are being serious." Jazza: "There's a serial killer out there. Of course people are being serious." Rory: "Yeah, but what are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/rory-people-are-being-serious-jazza-there-s-a-serial-killer-out-there/)

[Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/)

> [Boo: "Go talk to her." Callum: "About what?" Boo: "Anything." Callum: "You want me to walk up to her and say, 'Are you a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/boo-go-talk-to-her-callum-about-what-boo-anything-callum-you-want-me/)

[Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/)

[Explore all 262 Maureen Johnson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/)

## More Change quotes

> [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/)

[Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/)

> [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/)

[Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/)

> [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/)

Phil Hogan

> [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/)

[William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/)

> [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/)

[Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/)

> [When you walk down the street of Kabul your values for life changes, they do change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/when-you-walk-down-the-street-of-kabul-your-values-for-life-changes/)

[Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/)

> [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/)

[Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/)

> [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/)

[Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/)

> [“Stay focused on bringing people together and more on positive messaging so that you can be the change you wish to see in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/stay-focused-on-bringing-people-together-and-more-on-positive/)

[Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/)

> [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/)

[Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/)

> [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/)

[Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/)

> [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/)

[Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/)

> [No man can change himself into anything from sheer reason; he can only change into what he potentially is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/no-man-can-change-himself-into-anything-from-sheer-reason-he-can-only/)

[Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/)

[Browse all 33,920 Change quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Maybe this was what Aunt Peg meant all along - returning was a weird thing. You can never visit the same place twice. Each time, it's a different story. By the very act of coming back, you wipe our what came before.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Maureen Johnson"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/maybe-this-was-what-aunt-peg-meant-all-along-returning-was-a-weird/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Change"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/maybe-this-was-what-aunt-peg-meant-all-along-returning-was-a-weird/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4c/maureen-johnson-1282_change_maybe-this-was-what-aunt-peg-meant-all-a_2110962.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4c/maureen-johnson-1282_change_maybe-this-was-what-aunt-peg-meant-all-a_2110962.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4c/maureen-johnson-1282_change_maybe-this-was-what-aunt-peg-meant-all-a_2110962.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Maybe this was what Aunt Peg meant all along - returning was a weird thing. You can never visit the same…” — Maureen Johnson",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Maureen Johnson",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Maybe this was what Aunt Peg...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/maybe-this-was-what-aunt-peg-meant-all-along-returning-was-a-weird/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/maybe-this-was-what-aunt-peg-meant-all-along-returning-was-a-weird/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
