HOMEWARD BOUND

I reached a point where my desire for home was outweighing the gifts of traveling. It was a delight to immerse ourselves in the waters of many cultures. But after eight months I was tired, weary of moving from place to place. Yes, I wanted the creature comforts of America.

So it was with great excitement, hopeful expectation, and a good dose of sadness and melancholy, that we began our journey home, to set foot upon this continent, our continent, my continent once again. "Ah, Ahmerrrreeka," the Balinese would croon. Ahhhhhhhh.

After stopping off in Hawaii for a hot shower and a bowl of Randy's homemade chili, we flew to Los Angeles, landing in my sister Anita's lap. She had real beds with two sheets, and a hot shower (with shower curtain). And American food -- lots of it. Thanks, Nita. Then we went to Rob & Rosie's place in Lake Tahoe, and Candi's Mom's house, too, for some crisp mountain air and replenishing of our hearts with family. Thanks to all there for doing my heart good.

We picked up five boxes of mail at our friend Connie's house near Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Connie's help with being our "point person" in the U.S. was such a fortune. Connie, you're a sweetheart.

And then we drove all day, making it to Randy's brother's house, in the country outside of Chicago, Illinois, in the early evening. As we drove up to Bob & Cheryl's house, I had the distinct feeling that we had come around full circle -- our Around The World trip was over.

But not forgotten. I'm looking forward to the start of a new part of my life, but I also think that the trip and it's memories will percolate around in my brain for a while, sifting through experiences and looking at the U.S. as a whole new world.

At lunch one day, I sat in a booth at a local restaurant eating french fries. My body was in Chicago, but my mind was in Kathmandu, Nepal, where we bought fries at a little café down the road. And the other day I was standing at the window, looking out at the trees. The rustle of the leaves here brought back a memory of the leaves in Kanha, India, when we were on safari, the dry leaves crackling and crunching beneath the jeep tires.

And also not forgotten is the comfortable feeling that nothing much has changed around here. I was looking back over my trip notes and read the following paragraph from December 9, 1998, a few days before we left the country:

"There's lots of space around here, and there's something very compelling about being out in the country and being able to turn 360 degrees and see where the sky meets the land far off past the cornfields. At Bob & Cheryl's house you can see the neighbors' farmhouses for a mile around. Bob's house is a very comfortable old farmhouse. He repainted the kitchen cabinets a bright new beige color right before we arrived -- he had to remove all the iron drawer pulls and door handles, which took a long time to do, he said. No cats inside the house, but outside were a few kitties. One night we went out to look at the stars, and as we turned to go out back behind the barn, I could see them prancing after us, their cat paws crisping through the grass. It was cold, all right, but the sky was clear and the stars plenty."

Stopping

It's time to stop now, and I hope you found this an interesting place. Here's one last quote, one I hope you like as much as I do. Please know that you're on my mind and in my heart.

A large volume of adventures may be grasped within this little span of life,
by him who interests his heart in everything.

-- Laurence Sterne

XXOO
Margie

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