I'm obsessed and I really don't have the desire to recover. I love the USA. I'm homesick for somewhere that isn't truly my home. And when I'm in the US for any extended period of time, I'm homesick for my actual home - Australia. This would all be very well if I had unlimited flyer miles or pots of money; however, that's not the case. Furthermore, I live in Perth - about as far away from the US as you can get without launching yourself into space.
So I need some therapy to help manage my condition, rather than cure it, and I've decided to jump on the blogging bandwagon. Why not?
Because my first trip to LA was in the 70's when the aroma of coffee was not commonplace in Australia, and it hit me and became connected with walking into a hotel coffee-shop, or a diner, I now/still associate the smell of coffee with the USA.
ReplyDeleteLike Marcel Proust and his scent of madeleines transporting him to Remembrance Of Times Past.
The best therapy is to simply talk about it.
My first trip had The Hyatt on Sunset, The Palomino Club in North Hollywood, The Rocky Horror Show at The Roxy, and I got out to Newhall and saw the bison at the Beauna Vista ranch owned by Disney productions.
Fast-food franchises weren't in Australia at that time, so we were gripped by Carls Jnr and Arbeys, and of course McDonalds.
We got to drive-in Tiny Naylors before it was demolished too (I think it was in American Grafitti).
Have a nice day!
Found myself nodding and smiling reading that. Coffee and bacon is my "America smell" - well, one of them. And I remember the days before we got the franchises too. Yes, I'm old. Thanks for stopping by again.
ReplyDeleteThe first thing that's funny about America for Australians is ordering a sandwich and getting a huge thick thing with fries and pickle on the side. and then feeling sympathy for Americans in Australia who order a sandwich and get that flat nothing thing we do.
ReplyDeleteWelcome to blogworld - wishing you happy times here.
I know, Ann - and how about asking for chips - and getting the ones out of a bag! Thanks for the welcome. I feel like I'm in therapy...
ReplyDeleteHi Maggie - I hope your OLA child can sing 'I'm Proud To Be An Okie From Muskogee'.
ReplyDeleteDid you have Twisters and Toto/Wizard moments?
Hi Bwca - My little Okie is learning. I just ordered "S is for Sooner" from Amazon, along with "The Star-Spangled Banner" by Peter Spier. I've been teaching her to sing the national anthem, and trying to tell her the story behind it. And yes, to the twister/Toto moments. Spring in Oklahoma was NOT my favourite! Thanks for stopping by.
ReplyDeleteHi Maggie - welcome to blogging. What did you feel the 'Real Americans' of flyover country thought about NYC and LA (both places just FULL of people from elsewhere). Did your friends and neighbours scoff at them.
ReplyDeleteDid you live on a street where houses had the StarsNStripes on those flagpoles I love?
I went to the Pomona County Fair in 1976 - it was fabulous for a foreigner.
Did you do the OLA State Fair?
Hi MOD - thanks for the welcome. My hair is standing on end right now. I lived IN Pomona as a kid - arriving in 1975 and leaving at the end of 1978 - so I totally understand what you mean. And I LOVE the American love of bunting with stars and stripes! We actually didn't live on those streets, either in Cali or OKC - we were there on the bones of our bums. To find my way home I would just look for the police helicopter and follow the strobe light. My house was just under it...
ReplyDeleteGood to know you had 'security'.
ReplyDeletethe main memorable thing about the freeway from LA to Pomona is the huge cloverleaf shaped crossover. the fair had Big Truck drags, and a very interesting horserace game attraction I wish I had photographed.
I think my trip there was inspired by the songs of John Stewart with a nod to Merle Haggard, Dwight Yoakam, Hank Snow.
Yes, the security was outstanding. But I never grew accustomed to falling asleep to the sound of the odd gunshot. I know that freeway spaghetti junction of which you speak - the one near San Dimas? As for songs - my Mum had one for every second place we visited and drove us nuts with them. Now I drive my kids nuts with them.
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