Cannonballing to America

My last glimpse of Asia was a sweet one. During my layover, preparing to leave Taipei for LA, I stumbled upon a gate that would only make sense in Asia. Hello Kitty. This was even more hysterical when I was sleep deprived and couldn't decide which time zone I was supposed to be in. I thought I was dreaming or hallucinating. I imagine business class travelers in the pink seats listening to teeny bop music. What a trip.

The week in America was nonstop fun. The wedding was beautiful, and I got to see my whole family in one place. My family is so good-looking. I look through all the wedding pictures and everyone is beautiful, handsome. Must be because everyone couldn't stop smiling. I got to meet the in-law family as well, some of whom have more dancing endurance than anyone I know. Believe it or not, the happy couple postponed their honeymoon so they could hang out with me while I was in town. They were the best hosts a crazy old sister crashing their post-wedding romance could ask for!

I got to surprise two good friends in one afternoon. Neither of them knew I was in the States, and in their disbelief or confusion, they were almost rude. One of them walked away and the other pushed me when I was going in for a hug. After everything was cleared up, I was enamored with good company, wine, and Lisa's couch that I'd been missing all those Friday nights when I just wanted to sit around and chat. (Lisa I just got your card today - thank you!!)

I also got to see friends that joined me for everything from El Loro margs, Punch pizza, hot tubbing, late-night tea parties, sunny lunches, chili contests, haunted hay rides, Russian dinner with vodka toasts, zombie pub crawling...

The strangest thing was that it felt like I never left in the first place. At the same time, I was dreading another round of goodbyes. Of course the question comes up, where am I happiest? I can't say I'm happier in one place or the other; they are like oranges and apples. I'm just the lucky one who gets to have an orange and an apple to call "home." My goal is to make a whole fruit basket of home.

I love the analogy my uncle Doug told me. Moving to Asia is like standing on a dock overlooking a cold lake in northern Minnesota. You try to look beyond the surface of the water, but you can't see anything below. The only way you can find out what it's like is to just jump in. So you do. It's cold, uncomfortable, and it shocks you to the bone. Your first instinct is to get out of there - back to the dock where it's warm. But wait a second...or two...it's not so bad, not so scary. In fact it's actually kind of pleasant and becomes more comfortable with each passing moment. Now the reality is, the lake is where you want to be to stay warm. Getting back on the dock will be colder than before you left it. So in terms of my week of excitement and emotional hellos and goodbyes, I just like to think I had the opportunity to get back on the dock a few times and do a couple of flips and cannon balls off the edge. What are the heart strings there for if not to be tugged every once in awhile?