Some (Real) Revelations

It's no secret now that I have been away for the last few days. I will continue the rest of this Thanksgiving "vacation" at home while I catch up on everything I missed while I was away, but I must say sometimes one needs to leave home to realize how much one takes it for granted.

On this last Thanksgiving family vacation, my husband and I drove to Washington to see my in-laws with the baby in the back of the car. The drive was beautiful. I-5 took us right through Oregon and then into Washington. 15 hours to get there and 12 hours to get back.

But I missed California almost immediately. It's almost like the clouds, gloom and fog hangs around at the border of Oregon. And almost immediately, we were enveloped by clouds and didn't see the sun for four days. Not until we crossed back into California anyway. And we felt like vampires then, cringing against the sunshine.

All in all, it was a good trip. The baby behaved, the family was thrilled, and I realized why California is among the most expensive real estate in the country. You can't beat sunshine. Or force it, apparently.