I don't know if it's a skill/knack I developed over the years (by the time I was 37 years old, I had moved 37 times), but no matter where I am, it feels like that's where I'm supposed to be. It didn't feel strange to drop below the clouds directly over the house I had rented in Seattle's Ballard neighborhood. Driving a new-to-me car around seemed normal almost immediately. Even my first few days back driving a bus have been anti-climatic.
Some things caused a little anxiety, however. I wasn't sure I could stay in Seattle until I went to the Larry's Market by the Seattle Center. Fortunately, they sell the Belgian chocolates I like, so I'm safe. Then, my friend Neil presented me with something I had unconscionably forgotten about: the greatest chocolates in the world - Frango Mints! I couldn't fathom why I kept trying chocolates with mint in them and being disappointed. One bite of a Frango Mint and I knew what I had craved all year. Only South Africa's Mega Mint Ice Cream Bar could compare. But, even a Mega Mint wasn't as good as the old Frederick and Nelson's Frango Mint shake or the ultimate Seattle dessert, Frango Mint ice cream with
Dillettante chocolate sauce. Flavorful memories.
My PocketMail device's speaker stop working a few days after I settled at Charlie and Marti's place. Fortunately, I still can type and read files. Besides, I've got Marti's OLD computer to send updates upstairs to Charlie, who has been forwarding these updates I've been writing all year, and to Marti, who has been loading them onto the web page she built and maintains. I couldn't have done the forwarding or web page management while on the road. Heck, I couldn't write a web page if I had all day. Not that I'm not planning to gain that skill among others in the coming months/years.
Now that I'm not on the road with Odyssey, it's been a delight to take a leisurely morning shower (no line) and dry myself with a soft dry terrycloth towel. I can put the wet towel back on the rack and it will be completely dry if I need it for a leisurely second shower later the same day. I have my own medicine cabinet already supplied with little hotel soaps, shampoos, toothpaste, etc., by my friend Diane. I can do laundry whenever I feel the need, not when schedules and campgrounds allow. My teeth and gums feel better since I got a replacement Sonicare electric toothbrush (I fried my old one in South Africa). And, every night, I sleep in the same comfortable bed. If I could just figure out where I stored my shoes ...
One of the first things I did upon returning was use my front row season tickets for Husky Women's Basketball. Because of my seat location, I was in the background of three action photos in three newspapers Friday. Sunday, the Dawgs won in TRIPLE overtime! Way exciting!
While in New Zealand, I called and made an appointment for what I knew would be a great 90-minute massage with my favorite massage therapist, Wendy Becker. Massage therapists are like painters in that the fit to each customer is a matter of taste. While my Angel on Odyssey, Rachelle, is Renior, Wendy is my Monet. She determined from my leg muscles that my bike seat had been too high. More importantly, she did wonders for my injured shoulder. If each succeeding session shows as much movement improvement, my poor wing will be flapping in its full range in short order.
The best thing about being home is seeing people I missed for so long. For a one-on-one shy person like me, it's great to be around people with whom I feel so comfortable. Soon, I'll be getting my 77 rolls of slide film back and be working on slides show(s). In the meantime, except for trying to find a more permanent abode, there's no immediate schedule, no rush, no worries, just me mates ... and me memories.
Keeping the rubber down and the spirits high,
Bruce