But it feels almost neglectful to have lived in the San Francisco area almost 2.5 years and have seen as little as we did. I have lame excuses-- the spinning hamster wheel of school, after-school activities, sport teams, and laundry... and did I mention the laundry? But at the end of the day, we did Cali wrong, like really really wrong-- and I am somewhat regretful.
In Sydney for 4.5 years, we put serious efforts into doing whatever we could, because we knew our time there was finite. And this move to San Francisco was supposed to permanent, and we were supposed to have plenty of time to "do it all"… but now-- it's done. San Francisco is done. We are gone, and it is over. And we never made it to Lake Tahoe, or Sonoma, or Napa (or anywhere else we could have drank ourself silly on a day tour). We ignored opportunities to see Monterey, Carmel, Sacramento, Big Sur, Yosemite National Park, and The Pez Museum.
And now we are here.
We are back in Sydney, land of kangaroos and didgeridoos. The kids, now nine and ten years old, are back at their old school, wearing those cute Aussie school uniforms and "giving it a go", reverse adjusting back to an all-boys school and kids who swear like sailors.
And I realize that somehow I only feel compelled to spill my guts to the world while living a million miles from the people I love, so here I am getting back up on that horse.
And this is what we've left behind...
Upon moving to America my boys were introduced to baseball-- and became completed obsessed. This is my nine year old making the first pitch of the season.
And my ten year old: Mr. All Baseball All the Time.
We tried to tour the It's It factory, but only got massive ice cream sandwiches. You can see the disappointment on their faces.
Our dogs are in America with my mom until October due to changes in the Aussie quarantine laws; my nine year old refuses to look at photos of them, because it makes him cry.
My sister and the found autograph book she had signed when we were little.
Basketball clinic with the Harlem Globetrotters.
Luckily, a month before our move back to Sydney, the Florida grandparents came to San Fran and we took an all-day tour to celebrate my mom's birthday and see a few Bay Area highlights.
Makes me sad we didn't do more. Broken record much?
Pier 39.
Very big trees in Muir Woods with grandparents
My husband got quality time with his dad during our time in America; it brings me tears. Literally.
At least we made it to Ghiradelli Square with a visiting Grandma.
And we ended our big San Fran tour at Scoma's Restaurant for my mom's birthday dinner; this is my mom and sister selfie-taking. These are the times, and people, I will miss the most.
Goodbye San Fran; hello Sydney. We are back-- older, possibly wiser, and full of sourdough bread.
