It’s been quite interesting living with a Brit. Constantly being reminding “how American” the mundane things around us are. I’m really fascinated by it. I hadn’t realised how de-sensitised I had become to the American Way. Speaking one’s mind, bulk shopping, drink refills without even asking. But, if you can’t tell by the way we’re dressed, I think I’m doing a pretty good job of assimilating her.

We started off our American Day with an early morning walk donning American Bedhead and American Sweatshirts (I accidentally walked out the door with my bright yellow American Crocs. I know where to draw the line.) We strolled over to 4th Street where we indulged in a typical American Weekend Breakfast at Bette’s Oceanview Diner. Next, we headed to Ikea for some home improvement items for an American DIY Saturday Project (Weekend Warriors?) As the evening drew near, we hit up Zachery’s for a American Chicago-style Deep Dish Pizza with a bottomless glass of American Coca-Cola. We ended the night with some American Supermarket shopping surrounded by Americans in their American Pajama Pants.

And then it rained. For about 10 minutes. I was in the parking lot of Traders Joe’s. A quick stop to buy some turkey bacon and triple crème brie. And there it was: a perfect double rainbow. Stretched from the North Berkeley Hills to the West Berkeley Marina. We drifted home in awe. The whole way gasping at the vivid colors and tangible proximity. Like no rainbow we had ever seen. And even more so, inspired by all the people we were passing–frozen on the sidewalks, staring up, cameraphones held in the air. Old ladies, little girls with their dads, families, couples, the pizza guy at Lanesplitter (who is normally seen discussing riddles at the cafe across from Monterey Market)–they were all looking up. Something wonderful was happening. Something bigger than us all. And we all felt the joy of that. We were all smiling. By the time we were able to take our own pictures, the clouds had broken the two perfect arches in pieces. But it was okay because we had witnessed the curvature of the Earth. We were also a little loopy from the paint fumes downstairs.