California.

Today on the bus I saw a Mercedes on the road with a license plate from California.  I had to blink to make sure I was seeing correctly.  For a moment the familiar seemed foreign, lost in a sea of weaving vehicles with blue rectangular license plates.  I felt an immediate bond to that car...me and the Benz, both from California. 

Speaking of California, the state itself is like a brand name over here.  There's the Mr. Lee's California Beef Noodle restaurant chain, which some people use as a point of reference when I say I'm from California.  Since when California became famous for beef noodles, I don't know.  But I suppose someone from the Lee clan saw it fit.

Then there's the California Fitness Gym that I saw down south.  I thought about how it would sound if you, say, put another state in front of the word 'fitness.'  I guess 'Texas Fitness' wouldn't quite go.

I'm proud to be a Californian.  I mean, I love my state.  I don't know exactly why people get so proud about where they come from, but I have plenty of reasons why I do.

4 more months until I'm back.