Home in the USA

Hello from Portland, Oregon, USA. After a 15 hour flight from Delhi to Chicago, a four flight from Chicago to Los Angeles and a two hour flight from LAX to Portland, I am finally here. It took about 26 hours to get here, including the short layovers. As one older lady that used to fly on my charter jet all the time used to say, these jets are SLOW!!! It's all true, if the astronauts can get from one side of the world to the other in 45 minutes, why can't I? At first I took exception with her, but in the perspective of our world and universe, our jets are pretty slow. But, they can seemingly fly forever now. 15 hours is a long time to sit in an economy seat in the back but it's all worth it.

First impressions as I hit America for the first time in 7 months - 1. Everything is so clean. 2. I can drink the water out of the fountains and sinks. 3. People are driving on the wrong side of the road here. 4. I know what the value of my money is without doing mathematical calculations. 5. People in the hallways and airport lobbies are talking my language and look like me. 6. Almost all the TV channels can be understood and appreciated. 7. The roads are SO SMOOTH and you can drive at high speeds without destroying your car. 8. Even though it's cool outside, the house is WARM!! 9. I am seeing people that I know or am related to instead of every person you meet being someone new. 10. The bathroom has paper products instead of a sprayer.

Those are just the first things that come to mind that I especially appreciate after doing without for awhile. But, I know it will be a short visit and then Karen and I will return to Delhi together.

My company has asked me to get some checkrides that are required out of the way while here so I have extended my stay by a couple of days and will be in Dallas for that part. But, we will still be home in Delhi by the 8th of February.

Will be going to church with Keith and Shayna this weekend and spending a lovely Sunday with them before heading down to Southern California to meet the newest love of my life, my granddaughter, Sadie. I cannot wait for this!!

Since I am on the wrong side of our round planet, sleep evades me and I decided to get up and get my blog up to date.

The kids and I went to Shayna's school where I submitted to an eye exam for her benefit and then we went down to the optician at the school to get my glasses adjusted. While there the kids were trying on different glasses and I asked for the "Gangsta Look". Ask your kids or grand-kids, they will know what it means. Then we went out to some awesome Mexican food, always a dad favorite. Playing the piano, flute and guitar at home with the kids was a special treat. I have missed my piano!!

I hope your 2010 is going well.

Thought for the day: If your life seems like one, long air-raid drill, then Live to Give. It will make a difference.

Dan