“Spend long enough in motion and home visits feel like the dream.” – Old Sean
American Miles
After spending over a year in Asia and cycling through Europe, I’ve returned home to the United States of America, flying back to my de facto home state, Texas.
Sadly, my planning capacity for this return trip was lacking.
After nearly two years without a car, I forgot that life in the US without a personal vehicle is virtually impossible. I’ve spent the last two weeks bouncing around, relying on an odd brand of favors, finances and generosity to get around.
But overall, the US is not. Bloody. Walkable.
Despite that, I’m having a good time. I’m reconnecting with people I haven’t seen in years and crossing off my small list of cravings I’ve developed while abroad.
For example, I’ve had the strongest hankering for goldfish crackers and Tostito chips. Missed them like an arm. Well, maybe a couple of fingers. I’ve also felt a longing for Chipotle. And, to be frank, the US and Canada are the only places I can find classic American pancakes designed to float on syrup. Pancakes should be immune to drowning.
The foods we miss while abroad are almost always comfort foods. And America is the capital country of comfort foods.
Entering Festivities
I’ve returned home at a good time. Christmas is just ramping up, so a lot of people are visiting town to appease relatives. I’ve seen giant Christmas trees, gone ice skating, visited old haunts and meandered freely. In Denton, I’ve hit up the Jupiter House and got carded for the first time in years. I’ve actually forgotten the US does that.
In other news, I’ve visited UTD’s old college campus, taken various hikes around Dallas, meandered around the downtown area (Deep Ellum, Traveling Man, House of Blues, Cultural Heritage Area), and frequented a couple of Arcade Cafes (Nerdvana was spectacular, Freeplay in Richardson was retro, but with lousy food).
Beyond that, I’ve just been working online, helping out with house selling stuff since my father’s moving north, and taking care of a friend’s farm with lots of goats, lots of joy.
I also got to be a Dungeon Master for a game with old friends during Thanksgiving. Finally, I’ve enjoyed some late night beers, some outdoor campus coffee in hammocks and catching a solid 14 shiny Cyndiquills during a Pokémon Go Raid in Northpark on behalf of a friend of a friend.
Stateside Snacks
While the majority of my enjoyment while returning home is companion based, there’s a second vital aspect. Much of my return has been about the food.
Most of America doesn’t serve… How to phrase this? The food here isn’t exactly exquisite, but it’s never bad. It’s always a solidly consistent “good” flavor with an emphasis on texture. Americans love that mouth feel.
The Maple Leaf Diner stands out from the crowd, Brain Dead Brewery is also noteworthy, and the Loving Hut has been a long favorite vegetarian place.
Mini Jaunts
Despite coming home for a rest, I managed to sneak in a road trip. Not entirely surprisingly, just two weeks “home” and I’m already back to sporadic road trips.
I drove with Austin with a lifetime friend named Ari, doing a one shot D&D campaigns during the drive. Role playing games are a little tricky when playing with one person, but kudos to the lady who can clear out a diseased elder-forest-dungeon with a single NPC ally while soaring down a highway at 70 miles per hour. We got a sizable amount of Buckee’s fudge on the way.
While in Austin, I spent a night on the town with a high school friend who took us to his favorite bar (which I’m not going to post here, since it’s too cool to become famous). Later, we wandered down Sixth Street.
Other than that, I met up with a military buddy for some business, where we checked out Uncommon Objects (and antique shop), Hope Graffiti Gallery (to be moved in 2019), Yippee Ki Yay Stick-work Sculpture (10 tons of invasive saplings woven together), the Capitol Building, Zilker Metropolitan Park (great for a free-winter swim if you can stomach the cold) and Paco’s truly splendid tacos
We did this all while listening to Sargent Pepper’s Lonely Heart Club Band, occasionally on vinyl. Because this is Austin and these sequence of events are expected. I should also mention my friend’s cacti seduction. But I won’t. Reputation protection and all that.
Upcoming Journeys
After finishing our time in Austin, we said our goodbyes on Friday morning, November 30th of 2018.
It was a lovely pair of nights and we played a second game of D&D on the way back, using a new character, a Dragonborn monk clearing out a meditation temple. This proved supremely entertaining until we risked running out of gas due to our distraction.
Afterwards, I landed myself back in Dallas and a friend picked me up for a slow ride home, stopping at Kung Fu Tea on the way.
As far as returning to the United States goes, that’s about it. I accidentally directed a friend to break into someone else’s home, but that was just a bad case of rampant miscommunication and I’m sure I’ll be forgiven if I provide enough coffee.
Roughly two weeks back home in the states with barely a dollar to my name and time is sliding away like a greased… something. Seal maybe.
I’ve already got two more trips planned for the next month and I’m due to return to “travelling status” in January.
Until then,
Best regards and excellent trails,
Old Sean
Written December 1st 2018
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