Les and Me
We have known each other since grade school. Even though she moved to the East coast long ago, we have stayed in touch. She makes an annual visit to the Northwest to see her brothers and if we can work it out, we get together too. This year we spent a day together. I picked her up at the airport and we drove to our old neighborhood. We stopped at the corner drug store, which is now a café and had lunch and compared pictures of our grandkids. Then we drove around and took photos of each other and of our houses, schools, library, etc.
The time to say goodbye came too soon, but as she left she said…
I love you, I will pray for you.
Now as I reflect on our friendship I wonder
How can two people, who are so different get along so well?
She knew what she wanted to be very early – I still don’t
She was always at the top of her class – let’s not talk about that
She is Jewish I am a Christian
She does not eat pork - I love bacon
She has very creative ideas – I just follow the rules
She prefers the red eye flights, - I avoid red eye flights
(hates to waste daylight time) (very inconvenient )
She does not write long letters – I write long letters
she reads my long letters - I search her daughters notes on FB
There is an element in friendship sometimes you can’t put your finger on it, but it involves an appreciation for each other and tied together with love.

Breakfast Back Home

After a week of being served the most wonderful meals, I had to ease into my real world. So I opened the granola that Sharon Z gave me, tossed on strawberries ( fresh from our garden, picked by Darrell ) and topped it off with whipped cream. Then I decided to take it outside to the front bench.I closed my eyes to the weeds and savored the moment. An almost perfect morning.



You have to wonder about that person who has time to linger over her meal, close her eyes to chores, takes pictures and then posts it.

Wondering?

The best true baby story I have ever written

The Best true Baby Story
Our friend Lisa (brave beautiful and bubbly), mother of 7, took a train trip from Seattle to Bloomington, Illinois, with her family. Yes, all 9 of them, on the train for 2 ½ days. The children range in age from 6 months to nearly 11 years old and in activity level ranging from rocking in arms to maximum energy. That by itself would attract attention. The youngest, however, must have attracted the most, because one of the other passengers on the train crocheted the little fellow a colorful afghan.

Hawaii No sunrise, No Aloha

I cannot begin to talk about the week, without explaining how the atmosphere of this fabulous trip changed so tragically. Very tragically.

A week on the Big Island, Hawaii. Tiffany is celebrating 10 years of service with BDA, and Anita is the event manger. I am the Granny Nanny and Damon is along to “help”. There are 80 in the group, 40 employees, and one guest each.

Accommodations: The Fairmont Hotel – need I say more.

We arrived on Sunday afternoon, and on Tuesday morning, the headlines of the local paper read:
Murder at the Fairmont. It sounded like an Agatha Christie Mystery. But it was real. Susan, one of the BDA employees, celebrating 15 years of service, was brutally murdered by the boyfriend who came with her. Right in the hotel. Right next door to other BDA employees, who heard her cry, but not in time.
All the planned activities of the day were cancelled. The BDA owners gave everyone the option to go home early, to withdraw from any and all of the company gatherings.
One BDA employee asked the owners ( they are Jewish) if they could all hold hands and pray. They said yes. Many commented that it was just what they needed. ( Prayer IS the best thing we can do.)
Grief counselors came that afternoon and were available for the rest of the week.
Details were reported in the Hawaii and Seattle newspapers. Her memorial was this Saturday.

There is much more that could be said , but I will leave it there.
For Susan, there are no Alohas , no more sun rises, no goodbyes – hopefully, we will greet her in heaven.
For me, it is a chapter in my life that will haunt me for chapters to come.




Spending hours with Sebastian, walking along the flower gardens, the warm air, and the music and cuddle time were a pleasure and privilege, and a comfort. There was lots of good food, too, especially key lime pie and Kona coffee, and a breakfast buffet that would not stop!
There are a few photos in my camera. Most of them are of Sebastian. I wish I had taken more of the surroundings – the colors are out of this world!

Ever wondered about that exit to West Seattle?

Ever wonder what to do if you miss the exit to West Seattle from I-5?
(I don’t want to talk about it)

So you have GPS? Does it recognize road under construction?
(Getting out the Kleenex)

Did you have too much coffee this morning?
(Don’t even think about stopping at the McDonald’s on 4th & Lander)

Why am I on 4th and Lander?
( don’t want to talk about it )

Getting low on gas?
( more Kleenex)

Feeling sorry for yourself?
( check out the Mercedes convertible, top down, trunk slightly ajar with bungee cord holding it down, and pouring rain)

Running out of Kleenex?
( on sale at Bartells )

Me and Sabrina are dry and………almost in West Seattle
(don’t want to talk about calories )

Happy May Day

This is the first year that I will not be leaving May baskets at my neighbor's doors - My children are grown and gone, my little neighbor Emily is still sleeping and my grandson is too small. But pretend there is a little cone with flowers , and at the bottom, a candy kiss, at your door - it is from me!

Blessings on May Day

Proverbs 1:23 I will pour out my spirit into you, I will make known my words

( those are words to ponder )

Is it time to say goodbye?

It is still Saturday here. We are invited out to dinner tonight.
Sunday we will go to Jen's church. The peak. The longest elevator in the world. The Regal Hotel.
we are spending the night at the airport hotel due to our early flight and an hour ride from Jen's to the airport.
So, we will see if I have computer time before take off.

thanks for reading - you are welcome to comment ( thanks Jeanne )
this has been quite an experience - I know it will sink in a little more when I get home.