Here on the other coast (Pacific) football games are played three hours earlier PST, but the scores are the same – I checked. We’re visiting with SAM’s daughter Stacey and spouse Mark and their new daughter Chelsea. It’s been many years since my baby period – when your life changes forever. I remember now how wonderful my sons were and how life quickly began revolving around their eat, sleep, and poop cycles. Everything that was your old routine before became secondary. Human babies, unlike wildebeest and humpback whales, need a few years of care before they can run with the herd or swim with the pod. Good to see these loving, mature and happy parents. Chelsea picked a good spot to land.
This is my first time “living” vs “visiting” in SoCal; seeing how folk here actually live and how it’s different – the balmy weather means lots of time outdoors. Here in the greater LA beach town area the streets are very wide and the expressways bumper-to-bumper 70 mph with exits every two miles. The foliage is mostly different and, to me, interesting and attractive . The homes have a Spanish style, low with terra cotta tiles, high walls and well kept small lawns. Folk don’t walk here, they drive everywhere. The standard of living looks high and housing costs even higher than DC – a typical single family home here is in the 500-800K range. I’m glad that phase of my life is done with. Food here has mexican/asian flavors and fresh veggies and fruit are more popular. The beaches are really for sport: biking, skating, running, surfing, fishing and volley ball. Folks are young and active. For a state that appears in many respects to be “eco-conscious” we don’t see much recycling and basic residential trash separation. Ahn-ald?!
Son Will called as he had just met and shook hands with Colin Powell. He remembered that Mr. Powell was a hero of mine. 
Via Facebook, my 17 year old granddaughter, Faith, who’s family I’d recently lost track of, contacted me. Hoping to now reconnect with her mom, step-daughter Shelly soon.
Son Chon has returned from his amazing visit to Taiwan visiting with Anyta’s parents.