How's America?

I was walking through town this afternoon looking at the stalls in the fine arts fair, recognising the goods from this time last year. I knew of course that I had been here for a year but it didn’t impact upon me until I saw evidence that the cycle was on its second turn. Of course last year the fair was held under glorious sunshine, the mood cheery and the streets busy. Today it was drizzling and grey and everyone stayed indoors.

People often ask, “How’s America?” as if I am expected to know the health of a nation. I don’t of course. I usually reply, “probably doing well without me” (I am asked when in the UK more often than not).

I am terrible at introspection. Thinking about what a place is like, how a year has affected me. No matter where on the planet I am, there is always one constant. And it is a large one. It is me.

So how is America? It is what is outside, living and dying beyond my sight, beyond what matters to me. I don’t look more than a few metres ahead of myself (let alone behind). The only meaningful question is, “How is Keppet?” and no one seems to ask it*.

So although I have been here a year now, that is meaningless. Where I am does not matter as much as who I am. And I have been me for 24 ¼ years.



* If they did the answer would be well followed by one of:
Doctor Who is on scifi channel at the moment and the new series will be on the bbc soon!
Life On Mars dvds are out in May meanwhile David E Kelley is going to do a US version!
Angel is never too far from my mind or my heart (especially not when I am wearing my Angel tube station t-shirt)!
Thwipp!