She's real! I saw her with my own eyes!

I made it to California.

After a 34 hour journey, I have finally made it.

I got my bags, stepped outside of the gate and Katrina was on the other end waving me down. I was excited to see her since its been a while since we last met. But I pushed her away as soon as I could in order to get a glance at my fresh Baby Niece - Anashe.


I sat in the back seat with the little one as Katrina drove off towards Palo Alto. During the drive I couldn't take my eyes off Anashe. She was crying, smiling and showing off so much personality at such a young age... At one point, she stopped crying on her own... gave out a squint and smile.. And then I heard her farting with tranquility. "I think she's pooping," I say to Katrina with slight panic. "No, she shouldn't be pooping now..." Katrina replies. And then I notice a flow of poop reach past her diaper and all over her car seat. It was like a small sewage pipe exploding in your home and you're afraid it may not stop... "I totally think she's pooping..."

We stop on the side of the road to change little Anashe and then it hits me. It must have been the football game right across the street, or the bikers with helmets riding by, or the newly painted roads, but I just realized that I was in America!

It was in Whole Foods where I felt as if the Berlin Wall had just collapsed. In my head I was frolicking between the aisles singing to the music of the Sound of music "Shrimp, Tuna, Cod, Pork sausages, Popcorn chicken... these are a few of my favorite things." Thank God Katrina knows the feeling. It must be very strange going to the supermarket with a guy who doesn't stop taking pictures of everything.

We got what we needed for dinner and headed to their home in Palo Alto.

Yaniv was running late so Katrina and I shared an amazing Fish Taco Dinner, a meal she described as "un-special" and that she should have "invested more in the meal if she knew I was hungry." What Kat doesn't realize that where I come from a proper Fish Taco meal, with lime, corn tortillas, and margaritas, isn't something you just have... It takes time, investment, planning! Its not so easy to always find what you need in Israel, sometimes...

As the late hours of the night got closer (jet-lagged 09:30 PM), Yaniv and I stepped outside to share my first legal joint in America. A mild taste with a fruity scent giving off a mellow high allowing you to continue to function. Outside we talked about my plans and future. Yaniv has an epic way of speaking - a Carpe Diem way of looking at life. "This is your rare chance to boost your career!" Everything he said was dramatic, but true... I think the best piece of advice I got from him and would pass on to others is that the MINIMUM you can do is EVERYTHING you can. Basically, dream big or dream slow. It reminds me of Krembo's advice on "Mivtzah Savta" "When in a race, you must start with everything you got, and slowly increase your speed."

Left with my thoughts and a roach, I looked inside the house to find Yaniv and Katrina cuddled with Anashe, frozen in time. Watching her feed and getting excited at every gulp she takes. Really a picture perfect moment...     A baby really puts life in perspective.

Tomorrow is my first day  - WISH ME LUCK !!!

Good night, California.