Monday, January 30, 2006

I'm Back!

The States is BIG - that's what Dan and I discovered driving all around the US over the past month. Not only is the whole country big, but Texas is especially big. And Chicago traffic is especially heavy, even when it's light. And the hills of Tennessee are especially bad for our beloved overloaded 626. And Upper Michigan is especially snowy. And Hooper, Colorado hot springs are especially relaxing.

I wasn't on-line enough to think about blogging, but there are so many things to say about our time back in the States. Should I start with the overwhelming nausea in Cub Foods when I saw the Hostess Snack Cake displays? Or my blissful reunion with the cereal aisle at the same store? Maybe I could mention how we both (but Dan - currency trader extraordinaire - particularly) began converting from US dollars to Euros - this is after a year of doing exactly the opposite! And then there was the "deer in headlights" moment in the toothpaste aisle - we used one that starts with a "C". We got quite accustomed to houses with more than 2 rooms. And by the end, I was barely flinching at the thought that I could talk to a perfect stranger and not worry if s/he'd understand me!

Of course, then there are all of you! So many people to see and spend time with - and so many blog readers! Nieces and nephew who have all grown (and continue to grow). Other family and friends to share meals with (though for us at much smaller portions than pre-Europe), laugh at each other's antics, and catch up on life.

Getting back to Holland had some interesting twists...more on those later!