I'm not in California anymore, part 4
1) I saw a Prius! Yes, this is a rare thing here.
2) When I go into an Asian grocery store I am the only non-Asian person there. This is notable because (a) you don't see many Asians in Louisville, and (b) in the SF Bay area, not only is a huge percentage of the population Asian, all colors of people shop in the Asian markets.
3) I've been called "Sweetie" and "Ma'am" in the same phone call.
4) Dogwoods may be the best part of spring here (Cornus florida). California has dogwoods (Cornus nutallii). They grow in the Sierras, where they are a truly lovely moment of grace under the taller trees. But that's 5 hours away from where I lived. In Louisville it seems like there is a Dogwood tree in every other yard and they are graceful and ethereal and bright. They hold their bloom for ages and they come in shades of pink-salmon as well as in white, and they make me happy.
5) Eastern Redbud trees (Cercis canadensis). While you can grow the Eastern Redbud in California, it's not happy there (not enough rain). Here in Louisville there aren't quite as many of them in bloom as the dogwoods, but they are out there, and the particular rich dark pink of their blossoms is striking. I think they are a nice compliment/contrast to the dogwoods. And yeah, if you twisted my arm I might in the past have said that the blue-based-pink of the redbud clashes with the orange-pink of the salmon-colored dogwoods, but right now it is all color, and bright, and lovely.
2) When I go into an Asian grocery store I am the only non-Asian person there. This is notable because (a) you don't see many Asians in Louisville, and (b) in the SF Bay area, not only is a huge percentage of the population Asian, all colors of people shop in the Asian markets.
3) I've been called "Sweetie" and "Ma'am" in the same phone call.
4) Dogwoods may be the best part of spring here (Cornus florida). California has dogwoods (Cornus nutallii). They grow in the Sierras, where they are a truly lovely moment of grace under the taller trees. But that's 5 hours away from where I lived. In Louisville it seems like there is a Dogwood tree in every other yard and they are graceful and ethereal and bright. They hold their bloom for ages and they come in shades of pink-salmon as well as in white, and they make me happy.
5) Eastern Redbud trees (Cercis canadensis). While you can grow the Eastern Redbud in California, it's not happy there (not enough rain). Here in Louisville there aren't quite as many of them in bloom as the dogwoods, but they are out there, and the particular rich dark pink of their blossoms is striking. I think they are a nice compliment/contrast to the dogwoods. And yeah, if you twisted my arm I might in the past have said that the blue-based-pink of the redbud clashes with the orange-pink of the salmon-colored dogwoods, but right now it is all color, and bright, and lovely.