Dixie Does Sydney

Here I am, once again back in Australia and about to spend a day wandering around Sydney. This is the first trip I've ever taken, EVER, where I didn't have an itinerary of everything I wanted to do. I came for my Australian sister's wedding, so it's really about just spending time with everyone here, but I'm looking forward to a couple of days of spontaneous adventure. I'll probably wander through The Rocks, which I love (the first settlement in Sydney and the home of cool historic buildings, art galleries, and groovy shops), and then maybe up to Town Hall and the Queen Victoria Building. I also want to pop into a few churches and grab a chicken kebab to gnaw on, something I have to do every time I visit.

As I watched my sweet sister get married on the terrace of Quay Restaurant, with the Sydney city lights and the Opera House as a backdrop, my mind wandered back 20 years ago to the day I first arrived here as an exchange student. I feel so honored and amazed that so many years later I am still a part of this family that was chosen for me, still a big sister, albeit to two very statuesque women who make me look like a hobbit. Anyway, the wedding was lovely and relaxed and Melissa and Rafe are incredibly suited to one another. I loved the simple, direct vows..."I take you and all of your faults...." Everyone laughed, I'm sure because it's so truthful and everyone of us knows how riddled with faults we all are. You can see some of the awesome documentarian-style wedding photos at the photographer's blog here.

I'm back. I bet you didn't even know I was gone. I actually did some shopping today. Yes. Me. Shopping. Highly unusual. I'd also like to add that today I went by the name Dixie. The guy at the coffee counter misheard my name when I ordered some chai tea and thus Dixie was born. When they called out my new name for me to pick up my tea, I let him know that my name was Staci and thankfully not Dixie, because wow, what a horrible name that is, right? He then informed me that his dog was named Dixie. What are the chances?

On several occasions people I've met out and about, upon hearing my accent, have given me their condolences. It took a second to realize they were talking about the loss of Michael Jackson. Nearly every store I went in had his music on an endless loop. I would have liked to have seen the memorial, but it was on at 3am here and Mama weren't staying up 'til no 3am. If you know me well, then you know that I once spent about 5-10 minutes sitting next to Michael Jackson talking with him, but had no idea it was him. If you don't know the story, ask me the next time you see me.

Have any of you heard of parking assist? My sister got it on her new car and the freakin' thing parallel parks itself! It's like a ghost is parking. You pull up in front of the spot, then the car takes over from there and starts spinning the wheel and parking the car. Unbelievable. Is this going on in America? If so, where the heck have I been? Also, do we have sushi trains? It's a little sushi bar where you sit at high tables next to this conveyer belt that carries all manner of sushi and sashimi by you so you can just reach over and choose whatever delicious treat you'd like as you have the whim. I feel like a cavewoman who's been spirited into modern times...

It's well past midnight and all of the other peoples are sleeping, so I guess I'll leave this for now and go be unconscious until morning. Peace out.