Why Now?

Ironically, this all started because I've finally been told that we can go back to America.  I trekked down to the big city of Sydney, got ushered by security through a maze of hallways and special elevators programmed to only stop at one floor, stood pleadingly in front of a government officer and for once was met with good news.  Our visa application is "very straightforward" and will be granted in 2-3 months.  I wanted to hug him, but the plate glass window wouldn't allow it.  Of course, it'll still take us about a year to make the move.  Lots to do first (like finding a big enough boat to fit all of the stuff we've acquired in four years).  But the dreams of Colorado were already flooding in.  And it occurred to me that my state pride these days is for a place I lived barely 8 months.  Colorado.  I talk about it like it's heaven (which it is) and defend it like it's a place I spent most of my life (which it isn't).  Queensland never had a chance.

And to be completely honest, it still doesn't have the chance Colorado does because no matter how much I let Queensland in, we're still moving back to America in about a year.  But maybe this way, one day down the road five or so years from now, we'll be celebrating Australia Day in our little mixed-culture household while every other American lets January 26th just pass them by, and when that fierce state pride of my Queenslander husband rears its head, I'll finally understand (a least a little) what he's carrying on about.