Do you have any rituals that you do once you get home from a trip?

Call Mom. I’m almost 50, but it’s important to her to know that I’ve arrived safely home from a trip.

First, the dance of joy. I hate traveling.

Unload the suitcase and start the laundry.

No, usually I just enjoy the feeling of being home. I note with pleasure how it feels to be in “my bed”.

I always empty my suitcases right away.

Either heat up the house or cool it down, depending on what time of year we are in. Collect the newspapers. Water the flowers and plants. Unpack. Go shopping for food. Relax and read, since most times I am really tired from driving or flying.

Hug my bed, I love my bed. Nothing like the comfort of your own bed.

Put on a load of laundry, take a shower, then pass out.

Collapse.

Depending on the time of day I might do some laundry a few hours later and unpack, or I might leave it for the next day.

A leisurely shower, a full body slather of lotion and some take out food. No work, no unpacking.

Take a very thorough shower. Read my email, snail mail and phone messages. Unpack and sort laundry. Probably do a load or two. (or not) Order in pizza. If I still have any energy, start on the newspapers that have piled up. Sleep.

Leaving the airport, I go to Kaspers Hot Dogs, and get one with no relish.
That assures me I am home.

Retrieve my H.D. weapon from the safe and put it back on station. If someone does get inside the house while we’re gone they will have their pick of any of our things but they won’t get any of the guns to bring to bear on anyone later.

Not a ritual exactly. But along the drive home from OAK, there’s this concrete half circle that someone decided to paint like a watermelon slice. Every time I see it, I know I’m home and it makes me smile.