Pictures from our trip to Washington

Our first day in Seattle, MJ and I spent the afternoon at Pike Place Market.

Daughter AE who lives in Ballard (in Seattle) took us to a park near her home and here is MJ being silly.

This is a picture of me with three friends of over 40 years--we went to high school together. The blonde with glasses is TFJ who always opens her home along with her husband to our family. She had a lunch for the four "girls," which was so nice because the two others did not attend our high school reunion. Those in the picture are: JJ, TJF, SF, and me. (JJ and TJF were bridesmaids at our wedding in 1971.)

Here are MJ and CB on the ferry to Victoria. This was during the hot spell in the Northwest, so we really enjoyed the cool winds off the water on the ferry.

This is the Sunken Garden at Butchart Gardens in Vancouver Island.

The Rose Garden at Butchart Gardens.

Boulevard Park, Bellingham, WA
MJ at Boulevard Park

This is me with my dear friend NM, who was also a bridesmaid in our wedding. We always go out to breakfast with NM. For the past few years we've gone to the Old Town Cafe, which is behind us in the picture.

CB's parents had a family gathering on the Saturday before we left. It was quite warm, even for a Texan as there's no air conditioning in the house! The newest member is three-week old baby Hailey, the first great-grandchild for CB's parents. The two with the baby on the left are CB's younger sisters. Then there's me, MJ and her cousin CT. CT's mother is the second from the left.

A few hours after the family gathering ended, CB and I went off to our 40th high school reunion! The invitation said "dress for a party," and we were more dressed up than many of the other people there. Guess it depends on what kind of party you go to for your attire!

The reunion was okay, but our friends did not go except for TJF. It seemed that most of those we knew in the honors classes in high school did not attend. That was disappointing. Most of the people there had stayed in Bellingham. We would have been the ones who had come the furthest away, except for a former cheerleader, who has lived the last 35 years in Australia as a teacher and principal. We are not sure if we'll go to another one, since we live so far away. (However trips like the one I made for NM's wedding four years ago are totally worthwhile.)

The Price of Sugar

The most current Sojourners magazine points to a 90-minute documentary "The Price of Sugar":

"After watching The Price of Sugar, a film by Bill Haney, you'll think twice about that sweet stuff you put in your coffee. The 90-minute documentary follows the work of Father Christopher Hartley, a Spanish priest who lives among Haitian sugarcane laborers lured to the Dominican Republic by the promise of employment. In reality, the Haitians work under armed guards, with little food, housing, health care, or wages. Where does most of the harvested sugar end up? The U.S."

You can watch the movie trailer here or down below:



As I am addicted to sugar, this is good for me to know more about.

Home Sweet Home

I am so happy to be home. When I looked for an image about "home sweet home," I suddenly remembered this favorite children's book. I so believe that children like the books the reader is enthusiastic about. I was always energetic about reading these old classics, like The Little House, Ferdinand, and Make Way for Ducklings, among many others, and my four kids liked them, too.

I remember my parents telling the story about me returning to their home after a trip to visit relatives when I was about three years old: I would go to each piece of furniture and stroke it, saying: "Nice chair. Nice table. Nice desk."

It is really wonderful to be back home, even when our old cocker is found in the kitty litter box--even when I have to clean up the mess from that! Even when it is hot and humid. And despite all the balloons (transferred from MJ's bedroom) amidst the piles of books in my office:

I'm glad to be visiting blogs again. Thanks for welcoming me back.

Home!

We got home a little before midnight last night (Monday). MJ found her room filled with balloons, streamers and a "Welcome Home" sign left from her boyfriend CS. (He and his family left on a vacation yesterday, so they won't see each other before she goes to college.) What a sweet surprise!

Our flights from Seattle, Oakland, and Dallas were all late, which turned out to be beneficial, since we were on all of them. All turned out well with our bags arriving when we did in Corpus Christi last night! YAY!

Eventually we rode a taxi home and got here at about midnight. It is good to be home.

Connecting in more ways than one!

Before I left TX, a friend from 10th grade called me up to see if I was coming to the 40th high school reunions in Bellingham. JDR lives in Connecticut, and we last saw each other in Seattle in 1972 before she moved to the east coast.

We decided that we would walk around Lake Padden together, so I picked her up at her brother's house. As we sat together in the rental car, waiting for the light to change for a left-turn, SUDDENLY the Schwan's truck in front of me started backing up!! I yelled and honked the horn, and the truck plowed into the car. The driver of the truck and I both got out to look--no damage on the truck, but the bumper of the gray Impala was scraped and dented, with the Washington license plate folded in half and lying on the pavement. He said, "I know I shouldn't have done that."

This is my first accident! So we both called the police and were told to relocate. With the policewoman stopping traffic we went from the left-turn lane to the right road into the funeral home parking lot. The next hour in the heat ensued--80 degrees F. The police officer who arrived in his squad car chastised me for not having an insurance card with me, since we assumed that our own car insurance would cover any eventuality. (Besides, who ever has an accident??)

I was glad that JDR was with me and that soon husband CB arrived. (We were about a mile from his parents' house.) Eventually, the police officer filled out his report and gave me a copy. We had a nice chat. It turns out that the Schwan driver was a manager training a new worker--now how NOT to get into an accident! I also learned from the police report that the driver was born one year before we graduated from high school, so I probably look like his mother! Poor guy.

After that hour, JDR and I finally drove to Lake Padden and walked around it. It's shady enough that it was quite pleasant and beautiful. Through the accident and our walk, JDR and I reconnected and plan to stay in closer touch than merely exchanging annual Christmas cards.

The Connections:

• CB took a picture of JDR and me in front of the Schwan truck, so I'll post that picture when we return to TX.

• The "good" thing about spending an hour in that funeral home's parking lot is that this memory may diminish the one that hits me each time we drive by it--Seeing the body of my dad lying on a table with only his underpants on. I'd flown in from TX when he died; he wanted to be cremated; they took him like that and left him like that. He was white and cold. I hope a new connection to that place will dominate my memory now.

• If you hadn't guessed, I'm also calling the accident a "connection" between the two vehicles! (And of course, with JDR.)
  

Friday Five: Fall Transformations

How quickly can I do this before we set out for activities here in WA? I'll try very quickly. . . .

Mary Beth proposed the RevGals Friday Five today on "Fall Transformations." Fall is my favorite season, but does not occur in south TX, so this will be fun in an abstract sort of way.

For this Friday's Five, share with us five transformations that the coming fall will bring your way.

1. MJ goes off to college--the empty nest finally arrives at our home.
2. Both husband CB and I are committing to losing weight. I think this will work better for us when we are trying to live healthier together!
3. Fall (even though it's hot in Corpus Christi) brings the atmosphere of school starting. I would definitely be transformed if I wrote my papers to earn my master's degree in Theology at OST. There's also the final Shalem paper to finish, which I hope to do on my return to TX next week.
4. Exercise to recover from the knee arthroscopy--and to continue on the road to health.
5. Follow the leadings for prayer more consciously than I have done on vacation!
   

Bonus: Give us your favorite activity that is made possible by the arrival of fall.

In south Texas, I guess I would say that cold fronts start reaching us every so often in October--that could be considered "fall"--then windows can open and it is fun to be outside! (These days are always reminiscent of summer days in Bellingham.)

Canada--and 800th post!

This is the Peace Arch Park, which is the division between Canada and the USA on Interstate 5. As my four children were growing up, we'd visit here each year. They always loved to stand where half of their bodies would be in one country and the other half in the other.

We drove this way to catch the ferry to Victoria. It was hot (80 degrees F.) and sunny there. We had fun, and I will post about it when I have more time.

This is also my 800th post! I mistakenly told someone that it would be 1,000. I am relieved that I have not posted that much yet.

I appreciate the comments you have been leaving me while I am in Washington State. I don't have the time to visit blogs these days, but will return to blogging routinely in Texas next Tuesday.

Friday and Saturday nights are our high school reunion activities. Tomorrow night is a casual get-together, and Saturday's is the more formal event which will include dinner and dancing.

Lake Padden

MJ and I just got back from walking the three mile loop around Lake Padden, pictured above. I was a little worried that my knee would hurt, but I only had a few twinges going up some hills. I was slow and cautious about going downhill. It is 72 degrees F. and beautiful! MJ got to see how people around here get out to sunbathe when it gets sunny, even if it's in the 60s!

The first time I ever walked around Lake Padden was in July 1992, the day after my mother's funeral. Husband CB suggested it; going for a long walk there helped give me some comfort in its beauty. It's odd that I'd never walked there before; I'd only heard about the Lake Padden Golf Course, not the park surrounding the lake.

Tomorrow we're going to Victoria!

Boulevard Park in Bellingham

Boulevard Park is off a street known as "the Boulevard" in Bellingham, which goes along Bellingham Bay from the downtown area to the south side that is called "Fairhaven." There are many condos built (and being built) on the hills above this park. It is a good thing this area was made into a city park when I was in college (1970's), or condos would cover the area.

All the summers we came to visit here as our children were growing up (and even pre-children), it was a tradition for my mother and me to walk around Boulevard Park. Since her death, we have continued to do this on trips back here, trying to be there for the sunsets. CB, MJ and I will walk there tonight and probably on Wednesday and Thursday nights, also. However, Friday and Saturday nights will be spent at high school reunion activities so no Boulevard Park, and we'll drive back to Seattle on Sunday.

Bellingham!

MJ and I got to Bellingham tonight! I always get excited when I drive over the Samish (mountains), which are the gateway to Bellingham. Lake Samish can't be seen as clearly as before because so many trees have grown up, but here's a good picture: