I’ve been hanging out in Seattle for a few days staying at my daughter’s house, enjoying the company. My 3 year old grand baby is here and the cute factor is phenomenal! I am taking sort of a little travel break being on somewhat familiar turf here, having been to Seattle several times in my life and three times since Jill and Matt moved here last July. In fact, Seattle is where I got married 40 years ago, and pretty much where I was when the final divorce decree was signed last July. Coincidental, don’t you think, since I lived in Ohio before the marriage, and in Florida for the most part afterward! Last July I reunited with three high school girlfriends in Seattle for a getaway, a vacation planned long before the divorce was planned. (?) And my second grandchild will be born here in November. Consequently, Seattle will always hold a mixed bag of very special memories for me. Although I can’t say that I am feeling particularly nostalgic at the moment. Mental overload protection!
The drive from the coast to Portland was routine until I rounded a corner and saw the MOUNTAIN. Snow covered Mt Rainier, although still 100 miles away, rises above the clouds towering over the area with majestic dominion. Awesome! I connected with Interstate 5 which travels over Portland offering a bird’s eye view of the city in all its cement and glass wonder. Overlapping highways, the Ferris wheel, the port, houseboats, traffic, and a clear view of topless Mt. St. Helens.
To get to the city I drove through several tsunami hazard zones, or so the signs warned me. After having watched with fascination not so long ago, the news clips about the tsunami overseas where, on a perfectly beautiful day, the sea suddenly, without warning, rose up and swallowed people and homes and most of a small town. Thinking about that causes me to drive the shore in the zone with caution and speculation. I know the chances are extremely small that a big wave will overtake me, nevertheless, the thought had occurred.
I am not sight seeing here in Seattle, nor lounging, I am doing chore stuff. Washing clothes, paying bills, getting an oil change and rotating tires (The car tasks I would have normally left to the man in the family, but must now do that sort of stuff, in fact all sorts of stuff, on my own. Oh well……)
Mostly I am playing with my granddaughter, pretend games. We make a mess with tiny toy parts and itty bitty plastic people. Then I clean it up with some itty bitty help from the perpetrator of most of the mess.
The weather is not what one expects in Seattle. It has been sunny and hot. We have opened the windows in an attempt to cool the house with an itty bitty breeze. The sun comes up at a ridiculously early hour of the morning, (sometime before 5:00 because I am awake then and it is already bright outside) so that even after I lay lazily in bed long after waking, and I finally get up, the clock tells me it isn’t even 6:oo AM yet! Long days, short nights.
No one else is up that early, so I make coffee, and cut myself a piece of apple pie for breakfast. This beats camping.
Geographically, Seattle feels like the half way point of my journey, although, chronologically it is not. I am about the same distance through my thinking deep thoughts, half way, about! I have choices to make about life, and even if I make no changes, I am making choices. One cannot avoid choices. Impossible. Last year I made the biggest choice of my life when I decided to go for a life on my own. From here on out, the choices should be simpler, wouldn’t you think?
I have already traveled a lot of new and different roads.
June 3, 2009 (Just to offer a reference to time)
I’ve been in Seattle for a few days staying at my daughter’s house, enjoying the company. My 3 year old grand baby is here and the cute factor is phenomenal! I am taking sort of a little travel break being on somewhat familiar turf here, having been to Seattle several times already in past years and three times since Jill and Matt moved here last July. In fact, Seattle is where I got married 40 years ago, and pretty much where I was when the final divorce decree was signed. Coincidental, don’t you think, since I lived in Ohio before the marriage and in Florida for the most part after! Last July I reunited with three high school girlfriends in Seattle for a get a way and my second grandchild will be born here in November. Consequently, Seattle will always hold a mixed bag of very special memories for me. Although I can’t say that I am feeling particularly nostalgic at the moment. ?
The drive from the coast to Portland was uneventful until I rounded a corner and saw the MOUNTAIN. Snow covered Mt Rainier rises above the clouds towering over the area with majestic dominion. And Interstate 5 travels over Portland offering a bird’s eye view of the city in all its wonder. Overlapping highways, the Ferris wheel, the port, the city buildings, and a clear view of topless Mt. St. Helens.
To get here I drove through several Tsunami Hazard Zones, or so the signs warned me. After having watched with fascination not so long ago the news clips about the Tsunami overseas where, on a perfectly beautiful day, the sea suddenly, without warning rose up and swallowed people and homes and most of a small town. Thinking about that causes me to drive the shore in the zone with caution and speculation. I know the chances are extremely small that a big wave will overtake me, nevertheless, the thought has occurred.
I am not sight seeing here, nor lounging, I am doing chore stuff. Washing clothes, paying bills, getting an oil change and rotating tires (The car tasks I would have normally left to the man in the family, but must now do that sort of stuff, in fact all sort of stuff, on my own. Oh sigh……
Mostly I am playing with my granddaughter, pretend games. We make a mess with tiny toy parts and itty bitty plastic people. Then I clean it up with some itty bitty help from the perpetrator of most of the mess.
The weather is not what one expects in Seattle. It has been sunny and hot. We have opened the windows in an attempt to cool the house with an itty bitty breeze. The sun comes up at a ridiculously early hour of the morning, (sometime before 5:00 because I am awake then and it is already up) so that even after I lay lazily in bed long after waking, and I finally get up, the clock tells me it isn’t even 6:oo AM yet!
No one else is up, so I make coffee, and cut myself a piece of apple pie for breakfast. This beats camping.
Geographically, Seattle feels like the half way point of my journey, although, chronologically it is not. I am about the same distance through my thinking deep thoughts, about half way! I have choices to make about life, and even if I make no changes, I am making choices. One cannot avoid choices. Impossible. Last year I made the biggest choice of my life when I decided to go for a life on my own. From here on out, the choices should be simpler, wouldn’t you think?
I have already traveled new and different roads. At this point I have driven a variety of roads; tree lined and treeless, flat and steep, straight and windy, smooth and rough with a few surprises, 15 laned and one laned, through deserts and beside oceans, lonely and congested with bumper to bumper traffic, simple and confusing. Just like life’s paths and byways. Only more consolidated!
While I have been gone, two people I care about have died back home. My ex father-in-law and my Aunt Eleanor. They had both lived long lives, but it is still sad and I feel bad that I wasn’t around to just be there, although I am glad I was there for them during the living years, on good terms, and with love. Still…… My Aunt’s death marks the end of an era in our family, promoting me and my peer cousins to the oldest generation, the grand folks, the old folks!!! When my mother died, I felt it! These deaths seal it.
At this point I have driven a variety of roads; tree lined and treeless, flat and steep, straight and windy, smooth and rough with a few surprises, 15 laned and one laned, through deserts and beside oceans, lonely and congested with bumper to bumper traffic, simple and confusing. Just like life’s paths and byways. Only more consolidated!
I am thankful for the smooth going and ready to deal with the rough.
Tomorrow, I head toward Denver, Colorado. I will just keep on keeping on!
While I have been gone, two people I care about have died back home. My ex father-in-law and my Aunt Eleanor. They had both lived long lives, but it is still sad and I feel bad that I wasn’t around to just be there, although I am glad I was there for them during the living years, on good terms, and with love. Still…… My Aunt’s death marks the end of an era in my family, promoting me and my peer cousins to the oldest living generation, the grand folks, the old folks!!! When my mother died, I felt it! Aunt Eleanor's finalizes it.
I am thankful for the smooth going and ready to deal with the rough.
The drive from the coast to Portland was routine until I rounded a corner and saw the MOUNTAIN. Snow covered Mt Rainier, although still 100 miles away, rises above the clouds towering over the area with majestic dominion. Awesome! I connected with Interstate 5 which travels over Portland offering a bird’s eye view of the city in all its cement and glass wonder. Overlapping highways, the Ferris wheel, the port, houseboats, traffic, and a clear view of topless Mt. St. Helens.
To get to the city I drove through several tsunami hazard zones, or so the signs warned me. After having watched with fascination not so long ago, the news clips about the tsunami overseas where, on a perfectly beautiful day, the sea suddenly, without warning, rose up and swallowed people and homes and most of a small town. Thinking about that causes me to drive the shore in the zone with caution and speculation. I know the chances are extremely small that a big wave will overtake me, nevertheless, the thought had occurred.
I am not sight seeing here in Seattle, nor lounging, I am doing chore stuff. Washing clothes, paying bills, getting an oil change and rotating tires (The car tasks I would have normally left to the man in the family, but must now do that sort of stuff, in fact all sorts of stuff, on my own. Oh well……)
Mostly I am playing with my granddaughter, pretend games. We make a mess with tiny toy parts and itty bitty plastic people. Then I clean it up with some itty bitty help from the perpetrator of most of the mess.
The weather is not what one expects in Seattle. It has been sunny and hot. We have opened the windows in an attempt to cool the house with an itty bitty breeze. The sun comes up at a ridiculously early hour of the morning, (sometime before 5:00 because I am awake then and it is already bright outside) so that even after I lay lazily in bed long after waking, and I finally get up, the clock tells me it isn’t even 6:oo AM yet! Long days, short nights.
No one else is up that early, so I make coffee, and cut myself a piece of apple pie for breakfast. This beats camping.
Geographically, Seattle feels like the half way point of my journey, although, chronologically it is not. I am about the same distance through my thinking deep thoughts, half way, about! I have choices to make about life, and even if I make no changes, I am making choices. One cannot avoid choices. Impossible. Last year I made the biggest choice of my life when I decided to go for a life on my own. From here on out, the choices should be simpler, wouldn’t you think?
I have already traveled a lot of new and different roads.
June 3, 2009 (Just to offer a reference to time)
I’ve been in Seattle for a few days staying at my daughter’s house, enjoying the company. My 3 year old grand baby is here and the cute factor is phenomenal! I am taking sort of a little travel break being on somewhat familiar turf here, having been to Seattle several times already in past years and three times since Jill and Matt moved here last July. In fact, Seattle is where I got married 40 years ago, and pretty much where I was when the final divorce decree was signed. Coincidental, don’t you think, since I lived in Ohio before the marriage and in Florida for the most part after! Last July I reunited with three high school girlfriends in Seattle for a get a way and my second grandchild will be born here in November. Consequently, Seattle will always hold a mixed bag of very special memories for me. Although I can’t say that I am feeling particularly nostalgic at the moment. ?
The drive from the coast to Portland was uneventful until I rounded a corner and saw the MOUNTAIN. Snow covered Mt Rainier rises above the clouds towering over the area with majestic dominion. And Interstate 5 travels over Portland offering a bird’s eye view of the city in all its wonder. Overlapping highways, the Ferris wheel, the port, the city buildings, and a clear view of topless Mt. St. Helens.
To get here I drove through several Tsunami Hazard Zones, or so the signs warned me. After having watched with fascination not so long ago the news clips about the Tsunami overseas where, on a perfectly beautiful day, the sea suddenly, without warning rose up and swallowed people and homes and most of a small town. Thinking about that causes me to drive the shore in the zone with caution and speculation. I know the chances are extremely small that a big wave will overtake me, nevertheless, the thought has occurred.
I am not sight seeing here, nor lounging, I am doing chore stuff. Washing clothes, paying bills, getting an oil change and rotating tires (The car tasks I would have normally left to the man in the family, but must now do that sort of stuff, in fact all sort of stuff, on my own. Oh sigh……
Mostly I am playing with my granddaughter, pretend games. We make a mess with tiny toy parts and itty bitty plastic people. Then I clean it up with some itty bitty help from the perpetrator of most of the mess.
The weather is not what one expects in Seattle. It has been sunny and hot. We have opened the windows in an attempt to cool the house with an itty bitty breeze. The sun comes up at a ridiculously early hour of the morning, (sometime before 5:00 because I am awake then and it is already up) so that even after I lay lazily in bed long after waking, and I finally get up, the clock tells me it isn’t even 6:oo AM yet!
No one else is up, so I make coffee, and cut myself a piece of apple pie for breakfast. This beats camping.
Geographically, Seattle feels like the half way point of my journey, although, chronologically it is not. I am about the same distance through my thinking deep thoughts, about half way! I have choices to make about life, and even if I make no changes, I am making choices. One cannot avoid choices. Impossible. Last year I made the biggest choice of my life when I decided to go for a life on my own. From here on out, the choices should be simpler, wouldn’t you think?
I have already traveled new and different roads. At this point I have driven a variety of roads; tree lined and treeless, flat and steep, straight and windy, smooth and rough with a few surprises, 15 laned and one laned, through deserts and beside oceans, lonely and congested with bumper to bumper traffic, simple and confusing. Just like life’s paths and byways. Only more consolidated!
While I have been gone, two people I care about have died back home. My ex father-in-law and my Aunt Eleanor. They had both lived long lives, but it is still sad and I feel bad that I wasn’t around to just be there, although I am glad I was there for them during the living years, on good terms, and with love. Still…… My Aunt’s death marks the end of an era in our family, promoting me and my peer cousins to the oldest generation, the grand folks, the old folks!!! When my mother died, I felt it! These deaths seal it.
At this point I have driven a variety of roads; tree lined and treeless, flat and steep, straight and windy, smooth and rough with a few surprises, 15 laned and one laned, through deserts and beside oceans, lonely and congested with bumper to bumper traffic, simple and confusing. Just like life’s paths and byways. Only more consolidated!
I am thankful for the smooth going and ready to deal with the rough.
Tomorrow, I head toward Denver, Colorado. I will just keep on keeping on!
While I have been gone, two people I care about have died back home. My ex father-in-law and my Aunt Eleanor. They had both lived long lives, but it is still sad and I feel bad that I wasn’t around to just be there, although I am glad I was there for them during the living years, on good terms, and with love. Still…… My Aunt’s death marks the end of an era in my family, promoting me and my peer cousins to the oldest living generation, the grand folks, the old folks!!! When my mother died, I felt it! Aunt Eleanor's finalizes it.
I am thankful for the smooth going and ready to deal with the rough.
I am so sorry for your loss, just cherish all the great times you had with them. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Continue to have a safe trip.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you are taking this trip for it is what you wanted and who knows 'WHERE" it will take you. Two fine people have died since your travels, and life is as it should be for each of us. Enjoy, cherish and absorb each moment. Smile...just smile.
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