I am a native in this world And think in it as a native thinks

Monday, April 25, 2016

End of the road


We only had one day in Auckland, and part of that time was spent packing, shopping for last-minute souvenirs, and having our final dinner together. So Toronto -- um, Auckland -- didn't get quite the attention it would have earlier in the trip. After three weeks of the unique and the exotic, we had a hurried drive around the harbor, a visit to the very good museum, and dinner in our hotel. We were distracted. We were leaving.

But I took this picture on my way to the airport Sunday, because it did summarize the influences that had me feeling vaguely Canadian/Hawaiian on the opposite side of the planet. Auckland has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world, but still has those English Empire roots.

If I left for the airport Sunday, it would follow that I'm home now. There were 26 hours of travel involved, I remember that, so I must have gone somewhere, and the enormous pile of mail waiting for me all has my name and address on it, so I do seem to be home. I just couldn't swear to any of it.

The only part of me that doesn't ache is my brain and that's because it appears to be missing.

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