A [brief] U.S. Return

And returning to your inbox

CAMELBACK MOUNTAIN - SCOTTSDALE ARIZONA

Hi Friends,

I am back from a month or so hiatus of sorts from writing here on Pied À Terre Life. I didn’t plan this hiatus. It just happened as the result of a rough re-entry back to the United States after almost a year of being gone. 

As I’ve shared here periodically over the last few months, I have been struggling this year with some health things, physical and mental health, that I’ve attributed to menopause. While I’m sure that menopause is a contributing factor, there is nothing definitive to tell me “yes, it is the transitions that affect all women that are causing [all] your pain”. So, that in itself is stressful, adding to the stress of not feeling my best. Now throwing in returning to the US, landing back here on July 21, which took my body on a journey of adjusting to several time-zone changes and being in Phoenix in July (very, very hot!) - just OOF. I was a bit knocked down.

The good, very good, was landing back with my son for a bit over 2 weeks after a long stretch of just phone calls and zooms. What a delight to be able to hug this wonderful human and just spend time together. Being in his company helped my body, soul, and mind. 

The not-so-good? Well, the list is long. The US feels very hostile after my experiences abroad. It is not just the fact that it is (another) insane election year. No, top of my list is the grocery and food prices: our first stop was at a coffee shop as I requested some caffeine after my 11+ hour flight and my 12 oz coffee was almost $8! Jarring, to say the least. Now, over a month in, the shock has not worn off as I wonder how folks are affording, well, life here. 

I could write much more about the “not good” but that isn’t so much of the focus of Pied À Terre Life. I like to write about things that make people happy, excited, and adventurous but I also want to be real. So this is me attempting both. Thanks for sticking with it.

Spending time with my son is always a joy and doing so helped with the myriad of not-great physical symptoms I was experiencing. I am so grateful for the sincerely wonderful relationship I have with him. He is a gift. 

Road Trip to Tucson: a UNESCO City of Gastronomy and my “heart home” 

TUCSON ARIZONA

During my visit, Zach and I took a road trip to Tucson, Arizona and I will be writing about Tucson in a stand-alone post. I will share why I want to keep Tucson a secret BUT also why you should schedule a trip ASAP for shoulder season or full season (which is winter) because it is just so wonderful. Full disclosure: we lived in Tucson from 1996-2006, moving there when Zach was 8 and I was 28, and consider it our true “home”. I left for Oregon (to be in the wine biz) in late 2006 when Zach graduated high school.  Zach went to the University of Arizona and lived there until 2011. We adore Tucson and loved our life there. However, I do know that nostalgia can color reality after so long away but I will tell you Tucson is simply delightful and authentic (cringing because that word is so overused but in this case it is perfect) and delicious and historic and beautiful. I can’t recommend it more. We stayed in the very best restored historic row house and ate epic food, were gifted with a wild monsoon, visited old haunts, and saw dear friends: I will be sharing all of this and more!

Stay tuned. 

Portland [for a minute]

My Portland Friends Wonderful Summer Garden

I went to Portland for a brief visit and to do some work but mostly to see a couple of friends, change out my suitcase, say hi (and goodbye) to my car, and make sure I’m registered to vote from abroad (if you are traveling during the election be sure to check out overseasvotefoundation.org and get your plan made). 

While in Portland I ate some great food and was able to stay with friends and also experience one of my favorite rental spaces ever. I will be sharing more about it in a future post. 

But.

Portland is in a weird place right now, and has been for a few years. As I traveled around the city (so much DRIVING in the US - another negative to me after such incredible walking and public transportation in the countries I have been living in the past year) I realized that the Portland I fell for in 2005, that made me move, excitedly,  from a place I adored, well, it doesn’t exist anymore. And I’m not feeling LOVE for what it is now. 

But Portland still holds a lot of charm and love for many of my friends and while it is no longer for me so much I understand and respect their love and loyalty. 

Stockbridge, Edinburgh, Scotland

Now I am getting ready to chase autumn (yet again! And I love it) and will be landing in Scotland in just over a week and I am READY. I will share some exploring I will be doing our and around the country and local flavor from my home base in Edinburgh. I am ready for ghosts, cobblestoned streets, my favorite Sunday market in Stockbridge, seeing friends I have made over my last few visits, and just soaking up all the goodness. 

On the health front, I am still taking it day by day. It is all I can do. I remind myself that control is an illusion and that I am highly capable of many things. I can get through whatever this is. Thanks for letting me share - I hope that my sharing might help someone who needs it feel seen. And it helps me feel seen. Thank you.

Coming Soon

Life Off-Script, my audio journal series, will be resuming very soon with many episodes already written. I just have to spend a day recording. The feedback I have received on this series has warmed me from the inside. Thank you, thank you for listening and for sharing your enthusiasm. I cannot tell you how much it means to me! 

If you haven’t yet listened, I hope you will give them a go and start here.

Local Traveler: Conversations with [excellent] Locals which is my Q&A with awesome folks in different locations around the world will be resuming with some fantastic guests. I can’t wait to share them with you. 

Storytelling from the road and places I love and personal musings - all coming soon. 

Well, my friends, I hope you all are enjoying the end of summer (in the northern hemisphere) or the first signs of spring (in the southern hemisphere) and feel happy safe, and loved. How has your time been this last month? Please do let me know. I love to hear from you. 

Thanks so much for sticking with me and reading this substack. I so appreciate all of you more than you can know. 

Until next time.