A few thoughts after spending five days back home in Massachusetts:

Massachusetts is the only place where you can be the twelfth car in line at the local Dunkin’ Donuts and watch next door as cars come and go through the takeout window at Starbucks.

Skipped Mass today to sit on a rock by the ocean at Rye, New Hampshire to watch the waves at high tide and feel the warm sun on my face as the music of music of The Sandals played on the car CD player. Didn’t feel as if I missed a thing: the experience was both magical and mystical at the same time.

Lilacs are a little past here in the Lowell area but still coming out by the ocean up in NH. The fragrance of lilacs always takes me back to my childhood and weekends at my grandparents.

The Mexican food at the Margaritas chain of restaurants remains just as good as it was the first time I went there more than twenty years ago. Consistency and quality are a hard combination to beat. And something very hard to find these days, BTW…

I miss the lovely pink and white flowers of the crabapple and dogwood trees, There’s something special about their soft beauty.

The Red Sox stink. Pure and simple. I’m so glad I decided not to buy the DirecTV MLB Extra Innings package. I don’t like this team and don’t enjoy watching them. The ownership has ruined this team and it’s time to blow the whole thing up.

Kudos to bartender Steve (I don’t think that’s his real name) at the Wu Loon Ming for his pointers at perfecting my home-grown Mai Tai receipe. I think he’s onto something…

It’s great to be home back in New England, but I will admit I long for the quiet and lovely simplicity of my backyard with the patio and swimming pool awaiting my presence. As much as I love being back here, I know that Arizona is where I live now and I’m looking forward to getting back.