Full Circle

After sleeping in over 10 beds during my stay here in India, not including the sleeper train beds, I'm ready for my own bed. I've been having moments of recollecting the life I left in San Francisco and I'm curious about how I'll feel about it when I return. Leaving Hampi last night I felt like the whole town said good-bye. The STD conductor on the corner (local and international phone service provider) said, "See you next year!" I said, "Or maybe sooner!" On the train I looked at my 'Lonely Planet' map of South India, and followed with my finger all the places I've traveled. I remember the first morning I arrived in Bangalore, I didn't know what to do, everything was so new and daunting. Now back in Bangalore, I have my wits about me, and can manuver with the Indian through my day. Tonight I have dinner with an engineer who I sat next to on the first train from Bangalore to Chennai, what seems like eons ago. India has finally caught up with my belly, and I'm hoping dinner will successfully agree with me. Then I'll leave at the same time I arrived, in the dark hours of morning, only to extend the 13th of Febuary from here to the other side of the world.