At the moment of this writing, it's nearly 2 o'clock on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. In about six hours, I will be on a plane with the rest of my immediate family headed for London, UK, to visit my brother, RJ, who is studying there and interning at Parliament (growing up, though my parents remind me daily of how proud they are of me, Mom or Dad would always say something like, "Yes, RJ got straight A's this year! And Lisa? Well, Lisa is very creative."). I was ecstatic when RJ decided he wanted to go abroad - I think it's one of the most rewarding experiences a person can do while in college - and I was even more ecstatic to learn he wanted to study in London, where I had spent a semester several years earlier.

And now, several hours before I get on a plane to return, I'm keenly reminded of the memories I made over there. While my brother takes his academics a little more seriously than I did, I know he's made similar memories. I'd routinely do the reading for my classes at a little French pastry shop every morning while sipping on a cappuccino, learning the names of the waiters and finding out the shop was actually owned by Spaniards. On my walk home from the tube after classes, I'd stop off at Tesco, the local grocery, for dinner supplies. I'd pass boutiques and hair salons on my walk, bars and liquor stores. After dinner, I'd stop off at the Prince Alfred, my local pub, to visit my then-boyfriend who was a bartender. I can remember spending hours and hours and hours at this pub, not necessarily getting plastered, but often times sipping a single pint the whole evening, talking to random patrons, getting to know the other bartenders.

And frankly, as I recall my favorite memories of living in central London, I'm amazed to realize how much those memories remind me of Broad Ripple. You could've read the paragraph above and, if I'd've taken out the words "Tesco" and "tube" and "pub," it could've been a paragraph about the Village. I also know several friends of mine who studied abroad in European cities, upon moving back to Indy, specifically moved to Broad Ripple because it reminded them so much of Europe. Grocery stores within walking distance. Farmer's markets. Boutiques. Bars. Pedestrian-friendly walkways. A sense of preserving the cultural and historical. An utterly fantastic music scene.

Many times, I complain about how much I miss Europe, miss being abroad, miss London, wish I were there, blah blah blah. And now, as I think of why I loved being in London, I realize Broad Ripple is actually the next best thing.

And besides - I know there are things London sucked at, didn't have, tried to do but failed. Like Mexican food. I couldn't find decent guacamole to save my life. And look at us! We've got La Piedad!

So, yes, the grass is always greener, but I've come to realize that I need to stop bitching about where I am not and appreciate where I am for the time being.