[LEMONS] 12.26.2002
I Remember California
I've been homesick today, nearly all day long. To some extent it's just from travelling. I'm tired of lugging all my stuff--the same stuff--around with me everywhere I go. I'm tired of packing and unpacking. I'm tired of this shirt. I'm tired of these shorts. I'm tired of the weight and the sweat and the dirt on my feet.Not that I'm ready to come home. But a few things occured to me today.
The first is that what I miss is not the USA, but California. For virtually everything I miss about the States is California-specific. Northern California-specific at that. (Although Oregon would probably do in a pinch.) I miss the conversations, and the politically-aware populace. I miss the ethnic diversity. I miss the restaurants, and the coffee shops on every corner. I miss the fog, and the way the light hits the sides of the buildings, turning everything a radient pink. I miss the produce, and the greatest grocery stores in the world. I miss the healthy lifestyle. I miss the music, and the clubs, and the house parties where it doesn't matter whether or not you know the person throwing the bash. I miss riding my bike through Golden Gate Park and winding up at the Pacific Ocean. I miss the cliffs that plunge down to the raging sea. I miss the Victorians and Edwardians, and the parks hidden throughout the city. I miss the emissions standards and environmental regulations. I miss the hills and valleys. I miss the hipsters and hippies and b-boys and geeks, conspiring to utopia at the end of The West. I miss it all.
The second thing that occured to me is that it's nice to have a place to miss. Growing up in The South, I was always looking for greener pastures. I was never content where I was, and always assumed there was something better. Something different. I'm not knocking the South. Colorado didn't do it for me either. For some people, there is no greater place than Athens, Georgia, or Asheville, North Carolina. And that's beautiful. But that wasn't the case for me. I think that deep down, I've always been "from" California. I just never knew it until I got there. I'm glad I miss it.
Finally, it occurs to me that this is yet another benefit of travelling: it makes you aware of just how good you've got it. I take home for granted a lot of times. I take it for granted that I live in one of the greatest places on the face of the Earth.
I love Thailand. I love Asia. I'm nowhere near ready to leave. But I remember California, and I'm damn glad I do.
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