BANCKS' UNITE!

Welcome Doug and Gretchen!!

My parents are here in Budapest. Can you believe it?? Talk about surreal. They decided to come over to make sure I wasn’t really in Ames, Iowa knitting up a huge lie and funneling my tuition money into the black-market. That’s a weird family joke. They also just wanted to experience Eastern Europe. It has been really nice so far with them here and school done because we are getting to see a lot of the city together, some of which I have not even seen yet.

It's hilarious--my dad has managed to memorize the ENTIRE section in his guidebook on Budapest and the surrounding area, thanks to the help of the author Rick Steves. When I am just about to lead us off course (thinking I know where I am going) he causally pulls us back on the right path, gently and nonchalantly saying we should be going the other direction. Knowing random facts about the city has become his temporary obsession and he is a fountain of facts, let me tell you. And then there is my mother--the faithful partner and supporter of mi papa. She is very laid-back and very chill. No ice in her almost boiling hot coke?? NO PROBLEM! Ha. LOVE IT, Mom you rock. And then there is me--the suddenly anal guide. I don't know whats come over me but I am in an INTENSE competition with Rick Steves to see who actually knows Budapest better. Currently he is very much kicking my butt and the score is absurdly off-balance. Something like 90 - 3. Bummer, I think I'm just gonna give in tomorrow and let Rick (co-captained by my dad) take the wheel and drive.

Best of all, my parents are experiencing Europe 30 years after their initial visit when they were newlywed hippies looking for adventure. Seeing their expressions and hearing the excitement in their tones is really satisfying for me because this is really a treat for them. I am glad to have them here with me to see my world. It is always a little weird though for me when they step into a world I had previously created very much independent from them. It takes some adjustment for some reason, because this place does not know them and they do not know this place. This all makes me stop and remember how much things have changed in my life from even four years ago. I guess I forget. I have begun to feel very comfortable being in a constant swirl of variety and change, something many people may feel differently about. I love it though and find myself addicted. Somehow I know that this will always be a part of my life.