I wasn't expecting it but, I'm feeling a sense of relief now.  No, not because I just came from the restroom.

Being with family and old friends (some new friends as well) again put me back in touch with reality...the reality of my past, my family's past, Edwin's past.  Seeing my old house on the hill, the "airport" that was my junior/high school (Mia Hamm's alma mater :), my first shopping mall, historic downtown D.C., Edwin's favorite Mexican restaurant, seeing his car again, things he left behind for us and seeing his good friends from childhood to 19th & Wilson...it was all very healing.  One of the nicest parts of the trip was being able to share just about all of that with members of my 2nd family...from L.A.  Been wanting to do something like that for a while.  Even though it was short-lived, it was just enough for now.  We'll all go back there some day.

More later.  I'll try to buy that storage trunk this weekend and put together that collage of pics I have now.

Be safe everyone.