Where to begin....

...That is the question.  I have been off the net for awhile for good reasons.  In exactly a month from now my family and I will be on a plane heading back to the states.  We will all miss Germany, but we have to admit...we are Americans, through and through.  Yes, we are "Convenience Consumers" and appreciate begin able to run errands to the store on a Sunday.  We have been overheard saying that we miss our Lowes run through daydreaming about our Forever House.  How nice will it be to enter a store, or many different stores, and find a sale and items that you initially went into the store to acquire.  So often, we go the many PX's in the area, and not one of them has a simple item that we need, or if they do, it's a lot more than what we are willing to spend.  Target and Kohl's, watch out because here comes the Nagy Family.
Now there is great food in Europe, and we have enjoyed it immensely; but I'm dying for some real BBQ and a truly authentic Cuban sandwich.   I love American food!!  I want a big, juicy American steak with a big American size potatoes.  Both, one can't get here, even at the commissary.  They just don't carry the cuts of meat or the big Idaho potatoes.   Let's not even go into the restaurants.  Cracker Barrel, Chick-fil-let, IHOP (go figure), and yes, I will say it...even Chuck-E-Cheese.  You know, all those places that have created the mass epidemic in the USA.   Moderation, that's all I will say.
I'm looking forward to finding a place to take my kids on a rainy day that doesn't cost a whole paycheck.  There are museums, libraries, pools and all the wonderful places that let the kids explore and let their imaginations roam.  Don't get me wrong, there are places to take the kids here, but tickets to anywhere are practically the same price as the adults, and so are the menu prices for that matter.  It seems as if the USA is more kid friendly than Europe.   It will be nice to go into a restaurant, or a venue without stares from the staff because I have three kids..which by the way is an anomaly here.  "Drei Kinder?!"  We hear that a lot.
However, as I look around my empty house, or sleep on my very uncomfortable german mattress, I begin to appreciate the experiences  I have had here.   For Starters, you can't beat the Flea (Floh) Markets here.  Cheap cheap cheap!!  The bike paths and outdoor places are outstanding.  The public transportation's better than any other I have experienced.  The food, well, I have put on a few pounds for a reason. The crime rate, so much lower.  The indoor swimming pools, parks in their own right (though expensive).  Garmish and the Alps....I will miss.  The experiences my family have had, irreplaceable.   Then there are the Christmas Markets and the Fests.  But in the end, I wouldn't give up my home in the States.  I know, from experiences, if one looks around, one can find similar experiences in their own backyard.  There is SO MUCH in the Sates still left for us to explore and we are looking forward to it.
In the end, truth be told, I just want be able to walk into a store and find sandals for my kids and clothes in the season we are currently in and not for $40 for shoes and $30 for outfits.  I want my SALES!!!  Yes, I could go on the economy..H&M is my favorite, but with the exchange rate, it is so expensive. I want to find clothes for my American Size body.  It seems European women and men are supposed to be stick then.  And apparently, Europeans will pay 50E to 60E for a pair of kids shoes and they go up in price depending on the size.
Finally coming to my point of the ramble is this; in the end, we are Americans, and we love the American way of life.  We live for the BBQ's in the backyard and hanging out with family and friends.  We love the connivence and the family friendly environment.  I'm proud to me and American and God Bless my American Family both here and at home.   It's no wonder the flight we are taking back to the states is called the Patriot Express.
I FORGOT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING!!!!  Sports during the day!!!!!  Sundays in this family..BIG DEAL!!!  NFL better get their stuff straight before next season.  I want to see the 1PM game at 1Pm, not at 7Pm and see the game I want too...well that's if its not blacked out.   And Jay is all about the 10 months of Baseball...can't wait to hear the sound of a ball game on TV...during the day.
Get ready, because here we come!!!!