A new year

Im not sure what to write about today. I just wanted to write, so that this blog doesn't lapse. The flight to Canada, with A, went fine. I had more than enough toys and distractions and low expectations that things were actually smooth. Except for that Cares Flight Harness, that we wound up investing some $200 in with express shipping,that the Air Canada attendant basically looked at and said she didn't have time to help me figure it out and had no idea why someone told me I had to buy it. In the end, A slept in her stroller sleeping bag, threaded through with the seat belt. And it took only 30 seconds for me to get thoroughly creeped out by The Wiggles on the kids videos selection on the flight. Christmas was lovely, and A has now fuly understood the concept of a present and opening one.mShe knows what a reindeer is and that a snowman is made of snow. Granted, she may have scale issues with the snowman concept, because we could only build a 1 1/2 foot tall one in the melting Missouri snow. She likes the song Jingle Bells, and I find myself disturbed by all manner of other Christmas song lyrics. Baby It's Cold Outisde basically sounds like a date rape ballad. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer is all about making fun of someone until he turns out to have a skill useful to others, and those let's seem to be pretty fickle giving their love away to the new team captain. I am, however, suffering food culture shock in America. There is so much more salt and sugar than I've become used to, in everything from meatballs and wings, to casual restaurants, to even Trader Joes foods. I've cooked so much more this year, and. Mostly from scratch, that my palate is overwhelmed with processed foods. Now, this state I find myself in is a luxury, I know. Because I a not working full time, can get the bulk kf my groceries delivered and have time to then shop at the farmers market. Heck, because we have daily farmers markets and so many bakeries in Zurich. And, true to the cliche, I am now completely unused to ice in my water at restaurants. But seeing A surrounded by family, having such a great time meeting them all again, playing, being fawned over, and even having to negotiate their personalities, has been good. She will have relationships with these people that are different than my relationships with them, and that ranges from a learning experience for all of us, to ok, to a good thing. And after this stop in Cicago, I will go home to Zurich with another great AirBNB experience (renovated loft with wood floors, antique metal cage elevator, right in the middle of town), and after I hit that DSW store, I hope a few new pair of shoes to get me through the size 11 desert that is Switzerland.