And even more cultural differences

1.Mark and I have officiated at 4 memorials since we have been here. Every single one had a "wake" or visitation time before hand - even the one where the man was cremated included a time to visit the body the day before the service. I had never ever been to a wake or visitation in California (or even heard of one happening), but it appears to be standard out here.

2. Halloween is not October 31st here. It is the day that the city chooses for the kids to go trick or treating! In Ca, it was always October 31st.

3. And then there is this....







And finally, look at the last picture.... which is of a big machine that comes around and vacuums up everyone's leaves that they've raked into piles by the side of the road.