"Rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated." - Mark Twain
I am home, safe and sound for the most part; as safe and as sound as one can possibly be in a land of 200 degree days and 90 percent humidity.
Being at home - my other two "homes," the ones in the States, both east of the Pacific, one east of the Mississippi - was great; so much was experienced, seen, felt, done, that it's hard to know where to begin.
So in the impossible hope of trying to document every single thing I did while at home in the States, I decided to make a list. This is by no means a comprehensive list, and if you were involved and I forgot to mention something,
please let me know so I can add it. This is a list for me to go back to later and fill in the details; I'm getting old, and my memory isn't what it used to be. (
Though some may argue it never was in the first place.)
And without further ado, this is what I did on my summer vacation (in roughly chronological order):
- I survived an intercontinental flight from Nagoya to Syracuse, despite the best efforts of a cranky
Northwest Airlines stewardess, and a toxic-nut-laced "green curry".
- I ate
unadon, grilled eel on a bed of rice, in the Detroit airport as my first meal on U.S soil. Sorry guys, you can't quite compare to the authentic thing; though it was quite good, and the service was great compared to that of
Northwest Airlines.
- I got to surprise my sister, who didn't know I was coming and who I hadn't seen in two years. And because she was graduating from highschool.
- I got to see the rest of my immediate family, who I also hadn't seen in two years.
- I got to see my paternal grandmother, who also didn't know I was coming and who I hadn't seen in at least six years. And because it was her 80th birthday.
- I got to pick up my maternal grandmother, who
also didn't know I was coming and who I hadn't seen in over a year, from the airport. And because she misses me more than anyone in the world.
- I got to attend my sister's graduation party.
- I got to see my sister graduate from high school.
- I got to meet some of my sister's friends, who have been influential in my sister's developement and growth.
- I took over a hundred pictures of my family.
- I got to see my family's cats, who, despite my allergy to them, generally accepted me into "their" household.
- I got to see my mom's friend Joy, who is one of the funniest, smartest people I've ever met; and who generally accepted me into "her" household.
- I got to use an actual, working,
cleaning washing machine! And then I got to use a
dryer! My jeans were clean, not stiff from being out on the line, and even smelled nice!
- I got to go on a drive (
and actually DRIVE!) with both my brother and sister, a feat I don't think we'd accomplished since they came with my mother to the train station when I moved to Minnesota in 2002. And we had a blast. Yay for country driving!
- We found "where the sidewalk ends." (
Not the book, the actual place. It's at a bridge, if you're interested.)
- I ate more food than I would have ever thought possible. I think I gained about 5 pounds! Supermarkets in America are
amazing; there's so much
variety, and I can even
read the
labels! And I've never seen so many brands of bottled water.
- I survived a much better
Northwest Airlines flight from Syracuse to Minneapolis.
- My cousin Matt met me at the airport. Then We took the light rail to downtown Minneapolis. I think we discussed philosophy and World Cup news. The train smelled like Minnesota.
- I watched the Brazil-Ghana football match (soccer game) with Matt at an Irish pub in downtown, where I ate Irish lamb stew, drank a pint, and talked with two Aussies who sat behind us. It was almost like still being in Japan.
- I went to Mayslacks, my old local. Tuesday nights will never die. Saw a lot of the old crew, found out a few more of them are married or getting that way. But it's comforting that they're still there.
- I ate beer-battered cheese curds and deep dish pizza with Becca. The pizza was pepperoni and mushroom, and the company was great.
- I stayed at my old apartment again, albeit in Eric's place in the basement.
- I got to sit on the porch again and read and think and eat and look out over the park at the cityscape at night. It's one of the things I'd missed most of all; and I still do.
- I got to see my Grandpa and Grandma when they came down to drop off a car for me. It was great to see them, and great to have a non-bus way to get around the city.
- I went to the Walker Art Center with Lindsey and saw (part of) the Diane Arbus exhibit. Then we walked around the Sculpture Garden and took pictures of Spoonbridge and Cherry. It was a good night.
- I sat outside at the DML house and roasted marshmellows over a semi-legal firepit. Several times. DDR was also played on one occasion.
- I went to a Twins game. I ate a Dome Dog, cheesy nachos, and crackerjacks, and somehow managed to sit in nacho cheese. We also frightened the girl sitting next to me when Danika announced that it was absolutely imperative that I kiss someone if I was spotlighted on the "Kiss Cam". Luckily that didn't happen.
- My old roommate Kyle came to the game, too. I hope he gets the job in Hawaii, so I can go visit him.
-My other old roommate, Dan, met up with us at the DML house after the game. It was good to see him again too. Dan, just kiss the girl already!
- I went to Target. On quite a few occasions. And it was good. :)
- I went to Cub Foods on quite a few occasions, which is the mythical home of Cheez-its and chewy granola bars. And I was amazed that such variety of breakfast cereals exist.
- I watched movies that haven't even come out in Japan yet (that I know of). I didn't, however, get to see
A Prairie Home Companion, which I kind of regret.
- I spent the day at my Aunt Anne's house, visiting with my Aunt, Grandma, and cousins Libby and Drew. And they fed me. A
lot.
- Drew and I worked out how to make Paul Anka's cover of "Smells Like Teen Spirit" my ring tone. Mad props to the boy wonder. He also made me a mix CD to listen to on the plane-ride home, and
it is amazing.
- I got to see my Grandma, Aunts Anne and Becky, and cousins, Dan and Em, at my Grandma's apartment. Either I'm shrinking, or the cousins are getting HUGE. Em, you can make honor roll too. ;)
- I (finally) got to see Eric, who nearly scared the crap out of me while I was taking a nap. His beard is huge; just like his heart.
- I got to see a dozen good friends, who were kind enough to attend a Fourth of July party/barbecue at the house. 3pm to 3am. Good friends, good food, good times. Not enough time. Fonzy, I think we still have that ice cream.
See more photos from the Fourth here.
- I stayed up late every night. It was awesome. Lindsey is absolutely right: Losing sleep to spend quality time with friends is always worth it.
