An interference pattern of overlapping images form in my brain as I walk through the places I used to call home, the places I ran away from a year and three months ago.  I was afraid of this moment but it’s turning out to be a much more interesting experience than I thought.

As you can see my camera got pretty messed up during my travels…

New houses on the street

Then and now, my brain is playing find the differences like those newspaper pictures. There are new houses in the street, many of the trees have died in the crazy snow storm, there is a kitchen where I used to sleep in my mom’s house. People have started new jobs, moved cities, broken up with loved ones or are getting married.  Some look older, some actually look younger and some look exactly the same.

It’s like stepping back into old shoes, the first second might feel strange but the patterns of the past are so strong that in a few seconds time the comfort returns. Opening the fridge door, turning off the alarm, driving a car! The second time around is not the second it’s the millionth and one.

Ok most of the clothing (except the karate stuff) is my sister’s but still too hard to choose from…

There is a gap in which I manage to feel both the strength of the memories and their distance from the present, until once again they become the present.

There are some ‘comforts’ that are taking me longer to get used to, like trying to choose clothing from a packed closet after a year with only a small backpack, or detaching myself from google maps even though I know where I am.

During my travels I met some awesome Israeli’s and meeting up with them here is helping me keep the laughter and fun from the trip alive and well. So, so far, uncharacteristically for me, I’m not complaining 🙂