going home

today is my first full day - of a weeklong visit - at home. escondido. born and raised. after five years of making a "home" in la, i have to admit that there's nothing greater than the comfort of home. life in la seems go-go-go, a million things to do. but when i come home, life just is. almost as if nothing changes. ever. here i am, going through all these transitions, trying to figure things out...an internal whirlwind. and then i come home. to my parents. to my hometown. and for a moment, i am completely grounded. 

daddy and mama

baxter and molly

since i haven't been home in a few months, i noticed that my senses were heightened when i arrived. they were captivated by a distant familiarity. intense! sight. smell. touch. taste. sound - all overwhelmingly magnified. in a few words, here is my experience...

sight: lush green trees. front yards. traffic that is actually moving. $2.93 gas prices (as opposed to the $3.27 i paid in la). more green, green, green!

smell: blooming flowers and fruit trees. mama's perfume. the dogs' blankets. barbecues. brewing coffee.

touch: tight hugs and soft kisses (courtesy of ma and pa). unrelenting licking (courtesy of molly and baxter). sunlight warmth from sitting in the patio. extreme water pressure.

taste: three words: daddy grilling outside.

sound: snoring. lawn mowers. jingling dog collars. politics. house lines. fountain. "helllloooo" from the neighbor.

ah, home sweet home.