Way past culture shock

In an effort to embrace our urban lifestyle, Matt and I often walk out for breakfast on weekend mornings. One of our favorite places is the Bagel factory, but there are plenty of other good breakfast choices nearby. This morning we were gearing up to go, and I said I didn't feel like bagels, but you know what would be nice? Blintzes. Where can we get good blintzes? Oh, Kazansky's or Smallman St. would both be good. And I reveled for a moment that is is so nice to live somewhere we have such good breakfast choices in walking distance, before I realized how seamlessly we'd incorporated Jewish food into our diet. Much like when I tried to make pierogies in Spokane for the assembled family, only to find that not enough polish people live in Spokane to warrant keeping any Mrs. T's available.

We've been here long enough that it is inevitable that we'd assimilate a bit, I guess I surprised myself by how much. We are never without a kielbasa in the fridge, and usually also some type of Italian cured meat (currently prosciutto and sopressata). Like many people, our errands revolve around sporting events (although, we prefer to wait until AFTER the game starts to get to the store), and so I know a lot more about the Penguins and the Steelers then I EVER knew about the Mariners, Huskies or Seahawks. While we don't make weekly trips, I would be at a loss without a good asian market, quality deli and Italian grocer on hand- and we used to think the height of ethnic food was Mexican! Who can even imagine how our life would be different if we lived more than 2 blocks from a pet store and a bus stop, or within walking distance of a drug store?

But don't think we've gone soft- I carry my rain coat in the bottom of my bag with an aged clif bar like every good northwesterner. I continue to ignore Washington sports teams and am overzealous about nice weather. I'm sure we'll learn to cope when we come back home.