WHAT'S NEW!

When I started to write my posts, I documented virtually everything that happened to me, in my new life, in the US of A.  The two posts a week did not contain everything, and I found myself adding more and more.  Then I realised that I had little time for anything else, and whilst I enjoyed writing, it was taking up a lot of my time, and before long, I had nothing to write about because I was so busy writing, I did not have anything new to report.  I started to write once a week.  In the beginning, I was getting lots of comments, and became someone of a 'slave to the cause' as it was expected!  'Blogs' were somewhat of a new medium and it was fun to be part of a new movement.  I missed 'flower power', in the sixties, and my mum assured me that I was not a big enough fan to take part in concerts and the likes during the seventies, and whilst this was not quite the same, although I am sure there was a lot of 'influence', and I am sure there were a lot of people who were 'taken in' by various new ideas, or ideals, it was not quite what I had imagined my participation in the original movements would be.  I think I would have been more of a complacent follower, for although I could not wear my long flowing dresses, open toed shoes, paint flowers on my face, I 'flowed' through my fingers, and 'wore' with my words!  As time has gone on, although I still consider myself a 'new arrival' and many things are still novel, my once a week post has become harder to get done!  I have been doing 'other things' and despite wanting to document everything, still, the hands on the clock turn, and it is time to go to bed!

I apologise for the monologue and can assure those who enjoy these posts, that I have no intention of quitting, I just do not promise to write each week.  (Watch this space; I will start for a while, again!)

The last few weeks have been busy, both at work and at home.  Although we did not have a 'Bank Holiday' over the Easter weekend, it was a little quieter.  It appears that the US is one of the few places that does not have a day off in lieu, and a lot of people have taken to taking the day!  Compared with the UK, our holidays at the beginning of the year are far less, but by the end of the year, we have them in abundance!  Our Easter week was quite manageable and at times we wondered if we had offended our clients!  Of course, there is a 'ripple' effect.  If there is a slowdown in any part of the legal world, it affects the whole system.  The week after the slowdown, we were beck to being 'slammed'/  

One thing that I never 'banked' on was having an American offspring.  No!  I have not had another baby, nor am I expecting, or expected to!  Much as I have read about many women in the bible having babies at at a 'grand old age', I have asked specifically not to be a part of history in that way!  I refer to my grandson!  The first time I heard him refer to my daughter as "Mawmee" it was like Joy Adamson (for those who remember) in the film, 'Born Free'. when she said, Elsa's cubs were exactly that.  Born Free.  The lioness that she had 'adopted' and reared as a pet, was now living in the world, and although she was still 'tame' with those that knew her, her cubs were not.  My grandson is American!  He is the product of an English mother, and whilst she was reared in England, and will always be English, by birth, her son is not!  "Mummy has gone to get some petrol" was responded to with, "No grandma, she's gone to get ga'as!" with the long vowel!  It is an odd thought that if my daughter tries to teach him 'Cockney Rhyming Slang' he will say it with an American accent!  

The lack of 'bank' holidays between February and May continues to be a contributing factor to the heightened sense of 'needing' a break, although I think the majority of locals have changed their hours to suit themselves!  Whereas the 'opening time' when I first moved here, was 8am, and closing at 5pm, most of our business has been coming in either late morning or early afternoon, and the five o'clock quitting time is no longer relevant.  Coming from a 'nine to five' or more recently (and when I say recently, I mean over the last half century) it has been 'alf nine to 'alf five.  (Better known as 9:30 am to 5:30 pm, in American!)  However, we have our 'long weekend' as does Blighty!  We had planned to take a trip 'somewhere' but despite having three months since the last holiday, to arrange something, we did not!  Instead, we had a reasonably relaxing weekend, with a trip to the shops on Monday morning.  I bought a lot of books, and as 'Half-Price Books' were having a sale, I felt quite good about the purchase. I also bought my grandson some 'Transformers'.  Some things are the same on either side of the pond, as well as being 'ageless'. 

Rain has stopped play quite a bit over the past few weeks, and whilst my neighbours have been taking to the water, every so often, most have been watching to see when I start my twice daily routine.  Even then, I have been renamed from 'barometer' to 'false barometer'.  Two of my neighbours organised a 'pool party', which is more of a 'patio party' as no one actually gets into the pool!  I was asked to contribute some 'baked goods' if that was okay.  Of course it was okay!  Meringues and lemon cups are expected!  I am happy to oblige.  I did bring a new 'amuse bouche' to the table, in the form of choux buns filled with salmon mousse.  I like the 'wow' factor, and the 'It's British', comment.  Of course, the word 'choux' really indicates that it is a little more European than 'British' but 'beans on toast' would not have the same effect!  However, I digress.  I have been swimming quite happily for a couple of weeks, despite the rain, and despite the dip in temperature.  A couple of mornings the mist has given me the 'lake' effect and my swim has been almost 'paradise' like!  One neighbour commented,  "Ah, so you are Tracie!"  Famous, or infamous?  "You are the swimmer!"  The word 'barometer' was thrown out, and whilst some nodded, another said, "False barometer!  She makes us think that it will be okay in a month, but in fact, when she says it's okay, it really isn't!"  Although one of my neighbours, who moved here the year I was born, lived near the North Sea, and knows 'cold', I did not!  I just repeat the old story of how we were marched three miles to a pool that rarely rose above freezing, to take part in a 'swimming gala', the entrants of which comprised of one class!  I repeat that nowadays this would be considered abuse, but it really didn't do us any harm.  Did it?  It is a memory, and one at which we can laugh.  Would we complain if our kids were persecuted in the same way?  No doubt!  Did it build character?  Probably not!  However, again, I digress.  I have been enjoying my swim, and have enjoyed the peace and quiet!

World cup fever has gripped the country, or at least our part ,with a vengeance!  I am looking forward to the end, as I shall buy a lot of memorabilia after the fact!  Football (or soccer as it is known here) is not the national sport, and although we have a team in Austin, and therefore, it IS, by the very fact it is in Austin, important, Austinites are going to be following with vigour!  We, and that applies to all who live here, are hosting.  'We' are hosting.  It becomes 'ours'.  Although there is more division than I have ever witnessed, there is the 'We' in this instance.  

A trip to the radio station, as always, completes the "I have arrived!" aspect of my being here!  The artist was Ronnie Bowen, who is apparently new to the Country scene, and despite having been a singer for some time, has adopted various genres of music, and has ended up in Austin with 'Country'.  We arrived and were asked to wait in the foyer, until the food arrived.  Barbeque was on the menu.  We were served a magnificent feast, far too much for me to each, so I made a sandwich to take back to the office!  After lunch, we were invited back to the studio, and took front row seats.  The performance was videotaped, (is that still a thing,) and at the end, we were invited to ask questions.  As the artist had no 'bio', to speak of, available on the all giving Internet, I had not been able to stalk him to find out about his life and works.  However, he volunteered that he was raised on a ranch and that his father was a 'roper'.  "Does anyone have any questions" asked the DJ Interviewer, after the rather exciting performance.  I tentatively raised my hand.  "Front row", he said, and then added, whilst turning to the artiste, "She always has such good questions!"  I was tickled.  It just made me smile.  I have arrived!  My question was simply, "At what age did you pick up a guitar and know that you were not going to be a roper like your dad!"  Apparently, it was a really good question!  In fact, his grandma had called him a couple of days ago and said, "Do you remember the first time you said you wanted to be a singer?"  We had our pictures taken, and headed back to the office, but not before we were told, "Take the 12 pack of ranch water, and any food!"  This was not a general announcement!  It was specifically to my party!  I watched the interview on the 'live stream', but unfortunately I did not have a microphone in front of me when I asked the question, but the comment about always having good questions was heard, loud and clear!  I was delighted!  I enjoy my fifteen minutes of fame!

And...(not the grammatical way in which to start a sentence...) we are here!  Almost in June, and the heat is starting to rise.  One of my neighbours has told a friend that I am an English Channel swimmer.  He is not sure whether to believe my neighbour.  Another neighbour told him that I would have no trouble and they were not sure whether I had, or had not ever attempted the swim.  At twenty five miles, I think the answer is obvious, although apparently not, as some believe it to be a much shorter distance! I sit and read my book and wait for a direct question, whilst enjoying the supposition!

Life is fun, hectic, sometimes stressful, but mainly enjoyable.  I think it would be the same anywhere but I feel I have more opportunities and would love to think that they will never grow old, and hope I never become complacent!  Maybe I will and maybe I wont be able to contribute next week with ..... another story!