We got back from India yesterday afternoon. After a long (32 hours!) day of traveling, our Tempurpedic mattress was the most amazing homecoming. Everything we dreamed it would be in the snatches of sleep we got on the plane. Going abroad is an unparalleled experience, but a long journey always takes its toll.

It’s nice to be back to Bart and Sando, empanadas from 5411, fried chicken from Roost, hopping across the street for a mani/pedi, a five minute walk to groceries, pizza and salad from Coalfire, and a session of restorative yoga at Namaskar.

But there are definitely things I miss:

• A full house
• Neighborhood noises that include birds and squirrels and kids playing
• Demerara sugar
• Daily (filter) coffee
• Going out on the roof to greet the day
• Chatting while hanging up laundry
• Getting to experience my family’s pleasures
• My sister

I’ve still got to catch you guys up on the time we spent in Goa, but I wanted to make sure I shared my first reactions upon getting back to Chicago and fall weather crisp enough to merit a tights haul from Target.