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In case you only read this and do not get my emails, I have arrived safely home.

I’ve been busy. Busy avoiding something, busy with other things. Figured it was high time to write.

My trip back was relatively uneventful. Stayed in a nice hotel in Beijing, did some shopping. Had to check out around 5:30 AM, then proceeded to fly for the remainder of the day and the day following. The flights weren’t as crowded as they are in the summer, which is obvious. I hear that Northwest’s trans-Atlantic and domestic flights are terrible, but their Pacific flights are not bad.

In Seattle, I thought I lost one of my bags, which would be the first time ever, bu t it turns out someone took it, found out, and checked it into lost and found. So I made a B-line there, figuring I’d find my dad later (he’s a big person and all that). Well he anticipated my movements and met me at baggage. With my mom.

A pleasant surprise.

So we then met with my brother for breakfast, then hung out in the Alaska board room. My parents had graciously arranged to fly home with me—9 hours after arrival. It was good.

So now I’ve been getting settled. I’m glad I first came here. 98% of all my friends are in Washington, which means things are really quiet here. It gives me about a month to readjust, which is definitely taking time. This town is too small, I’ll tell you what. Yesterday I had three appointments. I had to go to the health clinic to get my TB test read, which was negative; then, the dentist, who told me my tooth is really just an irritated gum, but I should get my teeth cleaned (pending an opening in their schedule); finally, the chiropractor who told me one leg is longer than the other and my back is a bit weird—but whose isn’t.

Today, I have a meeting with the newspaper, tomorrow another chiropractor appointment.

Want to know why this town is too small? I know the dentist’s oldest son, I graduated with the daughter and son of the two ladies who work in the dentist’s office. My chiropractor is the father of three boys, the oldest graduated with my brother, the youngest with my sister, and I hung out with the two younger boys. Then I happen to go to the post office where I ran into two people I know.

So anyway, that’s life for now. I’ll probably start laying insulation underneath our house soon. Then my feet won’t be so cold when I go downstairs. My room is in the attic. Although it is zoned for heating, the temperature up here tended to be opposite of downstairs. So if I was freezing, they’d be warm. If I’d be dying of heatstroke, they’d be freezing—and turn up the heat. So years ago I shut off the heat and got a space heater… and life has been bliss.