Well that was a lovely Thanksgiving Holiday, don’t you think?

We left Thursday morning, at 8, because I was paranoid about the border. In fact, I did not sleep a wink that night. I tried and tried, but at 5 am, I gave up and took a shower. From then on, I paid close attention to the border cams. My goal was to avoid any holiday traffic. We had one car in front of us, that’s it. I don’t know if it got worse later. I do know it probably sucked on Black Friday. I read somewhere that Canadian shoppers start hitting the border about 3 am to make it to the stores down in Seattle that open at 5 am. I bet the border is a mess.

Came home Sunday night. It’s bitter-sweet for me. I am a person who really does not like to spend too much time away from home. I can’t think of a time I was not happy to arrive home from a trip. I like to be surrounded by my stuff. My tv, my couch, my kittens, my bed. But I like the way I feel when I am down there.

I like being close to my family, especially right now. And I love that every day I had something I wanted to do or somewhere I wanted to go. There were people there who wanted to spend time with me. I am surrounded by familiar things that I’ve known for the past 21 years. Things work the way I expect. Like Dr Pepper at am/pm and hulu.com. (I think Wil would like to live in the States simply for hulu.com.)

I feel more alive and vibrant down there. More, for lack of a better word, liked. I guess 19 years in one city will do that for you.

Nonetheless, the kittens were ecstatic to see us. (Pru has been following me every where I go, since we got home.) My bed is the most comfortable bed in the world and it’s good to be home.

American Things, besides our Thanksgiving, that Wil got to see:

1. Downtown Seattle at night, decorated for Christmas.
2. West Seattle
3. Bellevue Square Mall, especially Macy’s.
4. PF Chang’s for lunch.
5. Ruby’s Diner for lunch.
6. Beer for sale at the grocery store.
7. “The Road” at a matinée price of $8.
8. My family and friends, although technically Louise is Scottish.
9. Restoration Hardware
10. My uncle singing Christmas carols in the fake snow at Pacific Place with his Barbershop Quartet.

He did not go to Target with me.