Haven't we met before?

For shame, I have been a terrible blog owner. There is no excuse but rather than chastise myself for my blatant abandonment of this blog, why don't I just update and vow to continue updating in the future. 

It's been a little over a week since I returned from London, visiting friends and family and of course attending the wedding of my best friend. It was strange to be back because everything felt the same but I felt different, who knew how much living in America could change a person. I mean beyond the obvious weight gain and terrible accent, to the way I perceived things and my expectations of people and places. 

My (America acquired) resistance to walk anywhere was hampered by the fact that I don't have a car to drive in the UK and quite honestly, getting a fresh (though perhaps biased) look at vehicle and road sizes, I don't think I'd want one. I feel tiny and intimidated in my Chevy Aveo but the roads in the US are larger and there is undoubtedly more room to maneuver. In London, it really is a case of every man for himself and I just don't have that aggressive driver in me. Which is hard to believe looking at the way my parents and sister drive. 

Of course the most difficult thing for me to get used to was the lack of air conditioning. Arriving in London during the one of perhaps four weeks of summer weather, I was immediately questioning why the A.C wasn't on. Never mind that I'd grown up in the same house and there had never before been air conditioning, I looked at the electric fan and for the first time I fully realized it's inadequacies. And it's not just in homes. Call me privileged but if a retailer truly wants me to enjoy my shopping experience, how about a little A.C.

Pet peeves aside, being back in London was wonderful. I got to see my best friends, which you can't put a price on (but if you had to, it'd be $1400.00 for a summer ticket). And like it always is when you haven't seen your best friends in almost two years, we picked up where we had left off. As if no time had lapsed since our last conversation or night out. Oh, of course things had changed. Both for them and me, some in good ways and others in bad but we talked and laughed and chugged cheap wine just like we always did. 

The highlight of my trip was spending time with my nieces and nephew. I hate that kids have to grow up and change, I do miss their chubby cheeks and wobbly gait. That said, I'm also in awe of the young people they're becoming, their individual personalities and ideas. Their focus and interpretation of things, their fearlessness when it comes to expressing themselves. They'd changed so much from the little rugrats I said goodbye to almost two years ago. And I thought that would hurt more, I thought I'd once again be reminded of what I was sacrificing for my life in America but ultimately I guess I'm okay with it. I realize that more than anything, I was holding on to a time in their lives, in my life, which I can't get back. We'll have the memories and the awesome pictures and we'll move forward to make more great memories. Plus, kids these days are so technologically advanced, they already made sure that i had their email address so I can write to them directly!

So here I am now, just completed my first full week in Alabama. I do like it here, it gets lonely and the job hunt is painful. But I'm hopeful. Eternally hopeful that this will be a good place for the husband and I. That we can start laying down some of the blocks for building a life here, in Sweet Home Alabama.