Well, sort of. After another horrendous travel experience (our flight from St. Croix was cancelled so we had to stay another night at the farm after six hours of pure airport torture), we are safe and sound in the good ol’ USA once again. We have been in the LA-area since Friday, visiting Whit’s family. All of the graduations for the Claremont Colleges (including Scripps, where I went to school) were also this weekend, so we hit those up to celebrate with some friends.

Backing up a bit - when we arrived on Friday we drove to Claremont to stay at Whit’s dad’s house. A BBQ had been pre-arranged with our graduating friends and their families. It was great to see everyone again, and a full-flight’s sleep prepared us to hang out and catch-up.

The next morning we went to Casa Jimenez for breakfast - a local phenomenon due to their $1.50 breakfast deal. That low, low price gets you a plate of rice, beans, and eggs (or pancakes), as well as tortillas - amazing! And delicious! A few hours later we ate more Mexican food at Paddy’s - Whit’s favorite. Lots of eating, definitely worth it.

The rest of the day we relaxed with Drew, who flew in from Seattle to see us arrive and enjoy the graduation festivities. In the afternoon we went to the park for a BBQ with graduates and families. It was a beautiful, warm evening, so it was slightly hard to leave and go to Pasadena for a pre-Mother’s Day dinner with Whit’s mom. After a pleasant evening there - and a nice brunch with Whit’s grandmother Joyce the next morning - we returned to Claremont to catch the commencement ceremonies. It’s been three years since I graduated, and although it’s weird that it’s been that long, it was fun to watch younger friends go through the same experience. And, the food was so good. What can I say? When you’re deprived of the things you love, you obsess over the moment you get to enjoy them again. With that said, last night’s dinner at Senor Baja’s (formerly known as El Taco Nazo) was simply divine. Never had a better fish taco in my life.

We just dropped Drew off at the airport, and most of our graduated friends have loaded their cars and said their goodbyes. We’ll be in the LA-area until Thursday, catching up with family and friends. So far, it’s been great to be back - we know where things are, how to get there, and have lots of old friends to accompany us. We’ve gotten the standard post-travel questions alot already (no, we don’t have a favorite place we went to - they were all amazing!).

Next weekend my sister graduates from college in San Francisco, so we’ll be doing more of the same, but Fisher-style. Our trip was incredible and it’s great to be home. But at the same time, it’s nuts to think that a week ago I was knee deep and sweating bullets while weeding the pineapple patch…

PS:: Thanks to Drew for capturing Whit’s enjoyment of the Paddy’s burrito.