And I can now say with much certainty, that San Francisco must be the mac-daddy of all cities.
Our move from Australia back to America was a whirlwind of chaos, and stress, and fun, and rekindlings.
Our repatriation began with a several month long stint in Florida, where I spent my 40th birthday with friends and family, who I hadn't seen since my 35th. And by the way, Buca di Beppo... you make one sweet-ass plate of meatballs. :)
Our now 7 & 8 year old boys, had some quality time with their massive posse of first cousins. I Starbucked with my sister-in-law, Too-Jayed with my in-laws, and LiveLoveYogurted with my mom and our babysitter who came us from Australia to help me through the insanity.
We went on a cruise on the Allure of the Seas. Holy moly, she's a big girl.
In St. Maarten we went to an awesome place called The Yoda Guy. This is a shop/museum owned by the British gentleman who designed the character Yoda (as I understand it). Such a great little hidden treasure, and if you buy something, he'll let you walk through his personal collection of movie stuff.
The Yoda Guy and our boys. And the crazy thing is-- we all agreed he was very Yoda-esque... in a, dogs-and-their-owners-who-look-alike kind of way :) .
Anyway, about six weeks ago we finally landed in San Francisco, and we are loving it. Based on the places we've lived (and there's been a few :) my first impression is that San Francisco has the topography and landscape of Sydney, with the friendliness and swagger of Dallas.
And it is only by chance that my amazing sister, who is an acupuncturist and Dr. of Chinese Medicine specializing in infertility and pediatrics, is here-- she has been living in San Francisco for about nine years and she showed us San Fran's famous Painted Ladies, which she lives right near. Having my sister here has been the biggest bonus imaginable.
And there's more...
We are living on a mountain!!! Ok, there is the distinct possibility, it may-- I mean MAAAY be, a hill. And there are deer in the neighborhood. And there are plum, loquat, lemon, and Fuji apple trees in the backyard of the house we've rented. Seriously, we have all of those in our backyard! Not to mention the kiwi and grape vines-- and the tomato plant I bought at Costco that I am clearly incapable of watering properly.
Ruby the Labradoodle, taking a big whiff of cool mountain air, while standing on the astroturf in our backyard with a view of San Francisco Bay in the background. Apparently fake grass is the new black. Incidentally, she is the only family member who six months after arriving in America, still has her Aussie accent.
Three deer in someone's front yard yesterday.
So I still haven't seen the Golden Gate Bridge; but I have eaten countless tacos and drank some delicious bubble/ boba tea drinks... which again evokes feelings of Dallas and Sydney for us.
This new adventure has been more than I could have wished for so far-- and I am thinking I may start up the whole blogging thing again... it's been a while but, hot damn, San Francisco has some stories in store for me... I can feel it.
