In an Opal Hearted Country: A Vampire Returns

Georgia Peaches. Home sweet home.

In my last post, I promised you further tales of 4a.m. adventures and prodigal-daughterdom. I then went on to neglect this promise, and this blog, rather heartily.

It's not that the 4a.m. wanderings did not continue for some time. It just turns out international travel and reading a play everyday really takes the steam right out of a girl.

I've now been back in Sydney for a few days, and happy to report that jet lag has been much more manageable on this end. Everyone tells you not to sleep until bedtime on the first day, but based on my experiences this time, I disagree. My jet lag has been seriously diminished by sleeping as much as I possibly could on the first day. 8 hour nap in the middle of the day ... buh-bye 4a.m.

The trip itself was a delight. I spent quality time with my family and friends in Georgia. I also took a long weekend to visit friends in St. Louis (and was completely surprised by how awesome it is).

The Tim Tams were a big hit. The Vegemite, not so much (even the dog didn't care for it).

I got busted by friends for judiciously saying "quite," "straightaway," and "keen."

I discovered that I actually missed hamburgers more than Mexican food.

Ice is a wonder of civilization. A wonder, I tell you. I am shocked that the rest of the world does not see the beauty of a cold bevvie full of ice. Ice. I miss you.

Ross Dress for Less completes me. We have nothing that even remotely compares in Australia.

The dog and my stuffed cow.
Both live in Georgia.

My mom said that she was glad that she hadn't forgotten what I looked like, which was reassuring. Her golden retriever seemed to remember me, and promptly integrated me back into his pack. The now-10 month old baby of dear friends who was born after I left was not traumatized to meet me. My friends and I picked up right where we left off, despite huge life changes for all of us.

It all felt like home, in that everything was mostly right where I left it, metaphorically speaking. It also felt like vacation, in that my real life was back where I left it, safely in the Southern hemisphere.

I'm grateful for being adaptable and having adaptable family and friends.

"Home. Let's go home. Home is wherever I'm with you."

More U.S. travels ...

Chestatee Wildlife Preserve, an amazing non-profit in Northeast Georgia.
The donkeys hang out in the same pen as the zebras, and voila ... Zedonk baby!