Weird/Not Weird

The only thing that’s strange is that nothing is strange. Dropped into a foreign land, yet not at all foreign.

After our departure in September 2017, we kept in the back of our minds the desire to get back to Europe some day in the future. But after four serious moves* in only two and a half years, we were hoping to stay put for a while. If for no other reason than to take a rest. We bought property, we were happy to be near the kids and family... Time for a breather. Time to discover a little of what America had to offer, after 19 years abroad.

And then... Opportunity knocked, and here we are back in Stuttgart (five moves in under four years).

The first weeks, we were pinching ourselves. Differently from the last moves, we knew where everything was, how everything worked. The German began flowing again. We found our favorite running trails, our favorite grocery products, our old friends, our familiar sights. We slipped back into this life as if we were coming home.

It's a weird thing, but the little, unassuming leaf at right encompasses more than you'd think.

The next several pictures show some of the sights we've returned to, and are appreciating to the fullest. (Click to see them larger)

* Stuttgart-Tbilisi (Nov 15); Tbilisi-Stuttgart (Nov 16); Stuttgart-Honolulu (Sep 17); Honolulu-Washington D.C. (Apr 18)