Trippin'

We did just get back from a trip to California (unbelievably, Eduardo's first), having spent time in Los Angeles (of course) and La Jolla. The longer I am away from living in LA, the more I miss it and romanticize it.

I miss the phenomenal tacos. There is nothing even remotely close to California taco truck style tacos here. We don't even have a lame substitute like Del Taco. In fact, so much do I miss the tacos that on the way to airport at 9am on Sunday, I made us stop at Del Taco for a few tacos al carbon.

I miss having half a dozen choices for Thai food within a mile of where I live- and having the food be cheap and good. I miss brown rice being available from Asian restaurants.

I miss more than the food, of course. I miss the smell of the trees. Sitting on Roisin's patio on Saturday, the smell of Southern California wafted into my nostrils. And I felt nostalgiac.

Most of all, I miss being surrounded by my friends. It seems paradoxical, but even though I am surrounded by family in Minneapolis and live with a good man and a lovey-dove baby, I feel lonely here sometimes. On the airplane on Sunday, my ribs and diaphragm hurt and I realized it was from laughing so hard with so many of my good true friends on Saturday night. I didn't want that rib pain to go away because it reminded me of how happy I am when I am with them.

Moving to LA is not on the horizon for us. I flirt with the idea occasionally, but it would mean giving up too much. I love being near my family and having Johan grow up knowing his grandparents well. I love having a job where I feel proud of and appreciated for my work. I love always knowing where I am going (within city limits-don't ask me about suburbs). I love seasons.

So, we will continue to travel back to California and I hope to always come home with rib pain.

P.S. Johan pronounces all words ending in -ing all urban style (swimmin', rainin', trippin'.)