rocky mountain high

i'm back. back in denver. that was the longest i've ever been away from home. ever. band camp? that's right, i went to band camp. i actually went to band camp for three summers. that was one week. honeymoon? two weeks. trip to europe? two weeks. this time? i was gone three weeks from home and then home for three days and then gone again for two weeks. so a total of five weeks with three days home. brutal. i have so many clothes to wash and mail to sort through. actually the mail didn't take that long. thankfully i don't have a lot of bills. that's a life of used books and clothes that are at least ten years old.

i am ecstatic to be home. being back in texas made feel back at home, but it felt more like my old home. like a school you used to go to or a church. i actually like to compare it to a first wife. i only have a first wife but i've been around enough divorced people to make the comparison. with your first wife you have kids, buy a house and do major things in your life. for whatever reason, it doesn't work out. you move on. you find wife number 2. by that time in your life, you're older and you kind of know yourself better. you pick someone that's more in tune with who you are. that's what texas is for me. i had major achievements there. life-long friends. great family members. but i found a place that i'm more in tune with. a place that's more like me now.

but, what are some things to document about texas/houston? i'm glad you asked:

1. it's unbelievably hot. i have no idea how anybody lives there when you couple that with the humidity. if it weren't for crops, vitamin d and great surf songs, i would say we should consider retiring the sun. enough.

2. there's way too many people in houston. so many cars. going somewhere. i haven't looked recently but i think the population of houston is exactly eight trillion people

3. the people are nice. they talk to you. and when they talk to you they act like they know you. and they're helpful. that's something i miss.

4. lots of restaurants. i mean a lot. i have no idea how there can be so many restaurants. except i guess when you consider number 2 above. i lost my appetite for most of the week because of number 1 above.

5. people in texas have a sense of humor. i get laughs in texas. i get crickets elsewhere. people in texas like to laugh. they have to. they're slowing burning.

when i landed in denver and i saw those mountains, i felt home. no humidity. it was not scolding hot. my home was there waiting for me. so was my cat. i had to run to the store and buy milk and creamer for my coffee in the morning. i love waking up and having coffee at home. i usually go outside and look at our tomatoes and wild flowers. i also read. i don't have to work tomorrow.

i think i'm finally exactly where i'm supposed to be.