I AM PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN

Image by superciliousness via Flickr

I made it back to Ohio without any major difficulties. Actually, I got an upgrade from United and ended up flying back to America from Munich Business Class. Not too shabby. United, you are my new, favorite airlines, thank you! Business class has changed and now they have seats that turn into beds, for heaven's sake! It was fantastic! I watched three movies, ate fairly good food, and drank some great wines on my way back. All went well until we began to land and the pilot had to abort the landing because of the weather. He must have hit the throttle hard because we began to immediately increase speed. We must have flown around for another twenty minutes before he brought us down to a perfect landing.

Our house in Ohio looks wonderful, thanks to my son and daughter-in-law who are living here now. The gardens are abundant, the grass is green, and the house is in tip-top shape. They're doing and awesome job keeping the place up. We once rented our home out when we moved to China a few years back and it was such a disaster that we swore we would leave it vacant or sell it before we rented again. Then, upon our overseas move, the timing was perfect. The kids decided to relocate back into Ohio just as we were leaving for Germany. We are so fortunate to have them here and really care for our home. It makes living overseas so much easier when you know your property is cared for.

Our yard has been in the care of a local lawn service and it has never looked better. The cooler summer this year has done wonders for the grass. Usually at this time of year things have gone to brown for the lack of water. It is wonderful to see everything so green and in full bloom. The roses are bountiful, the daisys are plentiful, and the front perennial garden is overflowing with purple ballon flowers, black-eyed susans, hostas, iris', and many others.

The lilly of the valley are covering the gardens next to the house along with the hostas and as you can see, they are very healthy.

What is a bit strange is seeing someone elses' furniture in our home. We have taken all of our Asian furniture off to Germany with us and have added a few new things from Germany. I haven't broken down and bought a cuckoo clock, a beer stein, or a wooden carved plaque from Germany yet. We even went to the Black Forest where the cuckoo clocks were in every shop window. I held myself back! We're still enjoying the peaceful Asian inspired serenity of our furniture from Shanghai.

Image by uteart via Flickr

If we find that the day comes that we are driven to purchase a German traditional item, I'm quite sure we will consider selling our remainder of Chinese cabinets and tables. But what is really disorienting me is looking at my home with traditional furniture in it. I am home, but I'm not. Really, I'm in my son's home and that is ok with me.