Stateside

I've been back in California for more than four days now and it's still a little strange. The landscape is still pleasantly surprising after the relative flatness of Ireland. I somehow had forgotten that I grew up amongst foothills and minor mountains. There have been a few days of warmth but the weather turned rather cold today. Autumn is definitely in the air.

I find myself censoring the Irish-isms that have been incorporated into my vocabulary. Surprisingly it's the 'your man' and 'sure' that come out with the greatest frequency. And I almost always get a strange reaction to mentioning the 'toilet' rather than the 'restroom' out here.

Mostly I am pleasantly surprised at how easily I am picking up with my loved ones. I have also been fortunate to bump into many familiar faces from previous lives. I'm on such a giddy high being back from the novelty of everything and of everyone...I don't know how long it will last or how long I can sustain this level of absorption of stimulus. I think it will last a few days more. And I think I can make it.