In the States!

I am sitting in the airport lounge in LA at this very moment. It's definitely a surreal experience. The team had a different flight over the ocean and is still in the air right now, but we hope to connect before getting on separate flights toward Columbus.

So many thoughts going through my head being back on US soil for the first time in 10 months. I am way too sleep deprived for any deep thoughts, so here are some random ones for now.

• It's around 65 degrees here in LA, and it feels absolutely chilly to me. That's about 30 degrees cooler than what I just left in Cambodia. My fingers are freezing as I type. Sort of wishing I had gloves.

• I had been craving a turkey sandwich and fountain diet coke for the last ten months...two items that I couldn't get over there. Just had them both. The turkey tasted great. The diet did not. Wondering if it's that my taste buds have changed or the coke wasn't good. Not sure.

• I have blisters on my toes because I am wearing socks and shoes for the first time in several months. My feet long to be free.

• Morgan gave me her cell phone to use while flying back. I stared at it for a moment as I tried to remember how to use it. I didn't have anything that complicated over there.

• I can understand all the background conversations around me right now. So weird.

• I am no longer the tallest person around.

• I am also no longer the only white person around. Strangely, I feel out of place here right now.

• I was excited when I got all dollar bills for change from my meal so that I could use them for moto rides. Until I remembered that I won't be taking any moto rides for a while.

• Yes, it's LA. But the air seems extremely clean to me. It's all a matter of perspective:)

• I'm about ready to go brush my teeth...and just remembered that I can use the tap water again.

Thanks for all your prayers! It won't be long now until I am back in Columbus:)