Lisa Ann Writes

I didn’t write anything yesterday- I think I had to just really think about what I wanted to say. It was such a good day- yet it really made me realize how much time has gone by…

This trip is, in part, a celebration of 28 years of marriage. Thinking about our wedding my mind went backto the people who were in my life at that time. One of them always has remained dear to my heart. I remembered that soon after Jim and I were married she and her family moved to the Seattle area. So- thanks to google…I found her!

I called her on Monday and left a message on her machine. I left my maiden name because I thought she would remember me better that way. I wasn’t even sure that it was her number, but a few hours later I got a return call from a very surprised old friend.

She and her husband lived in the town I grew up in and I knew her from church. She was always so kind to me- giving me rides to church even though it was out of her way- just being an adult friend who had good advice and I always knew she wanted the best for me.

Yesterday she came to my hotel and picked me up, just like old times LOL, and we just drove all over and she showed me the area and we talked about years gone by. People we remembered- people we forgot-

What I learned was- as a 16/17 year old girl I was very lucky to have this person in my life. She really watched out for my best interest back then. I realized that I never knew how old she was, I never knew what she did for work, I never knew anything about her really other than she taught me the gospel and trusted me to be her friend. Yet she cared about me to know things about me.

Just talking with her again and spending the day with her and her beautiful granddaughter really has given me so much to think about. The direction our lives go- the people that are on the path we choose- the timing that seems to make things just fall in line with the greater plan of things. What little steps take us in which direction.

It was an day that no picture could describe- (plus I forgot my camera!)

I feel like this trip here has so many reasons for happening- I am so glad that I was able to come to Seattle- but I have to tell ya-

I am a weeee bit homesick. I was waking up today thinking about how wonderful it is to open my eyes and see the beach right out of my window. I don’t even have to get out of bed- just open my eyes. I love that. But… I am really starting to wish I could wake up and go into the living room and see my grandbaby. There is magic in the ocean but nothing to compare with the smile and the out streached arms of Camper wanting Lala to hold him. I even missed being spitup on.  Well- maybe not that much.

Today the plan is to hang out in my room- get some more writing done and the when Jim gets back from work we are going to go do laundry.

Time goes on…… 28 years since I have seen my friend and just days till I see my grandbaby. All good stuff.

Today we drove to Portland OR to find my sister’s grave. It was a weird feeling seeing it there- but I brought some sand from the beach near the house where we grew up in CT and some shells and soil from the house we grew up in. I guess I was trying to bring some of home to her.

We found the stone and delivered the parts of home I could bring to her. I also tooksome soil from her resting place to  take back to CT and leave with my parents at their graves. I don’t know- somehow this all makes me feel better- seeing that she has some honor given to her.

I will post the pictures here so family can see them if they want. It was a beautiful cememtary.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The only other thing we did today was laundry and Jim fixed the computer. It has been a very relaxing day. Tomorrow we switch hotels to get closer the where Jim will be working next week. It is closer to the beach for me. Just hope the sun shines while we are there.

Also, still looking for a quilt shop to check out.  It is never far from my thoughts!

When Jim came in back from work this morning we decided to head off to see some things. We realized that we didn’t bring a camera so the first stop was Target to get one. This is a picture of the left overs from trying to get the stupid thing out of the package! The car keys came in handy just to open it! So off we went into the city.

 

 

 

 

 

I was pretty amazed at just how big- but yet clean Seattle is.

 

 

 

 

 

 Also amazing was that we found a place to park this close to the Space Needle!

 

 

We started the tour at “Ride the Ducks of Seattle”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was happy to see the life vests… but then I wasn’t sure. Would I actually need one!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Before getting into the water part of the tour we did some downtown Seattle sight-seeing. I loved the old part of town and all the historical buildings.

Then there was the public art everywhere. Can you find it in the picture? It is a sculpture of the rock- next to the rock. There were tons of other weird ones too!

 

 

 

This is a view of driving over the bridge in the duck mobile to get to the lake that the land/water thing would be “driving” in-

amazing isn’t it!

 

 

 

Captain Lou asked if we wanted to go into the water fast or slow- we all yelled FAST! But he had to go slow anyways…. silly Captian!

 

 

 

 

 

There were some boats by the landing where we cast out to sea.

 

 

 

 

This would be the Ride the Ducks hair-doo. Even Natalie couldn’t fix this!

 

 

 

 

 

 

This would be Ride the Ducks face…. cute isn’t he!

 

 

 

 

up next some sights to see on Lake Union from the Duck ride

 

boat from the first season of Deadliest Catch

 

 

 

 

 

an old gas plant that had a fire and they just put a fence around what was left and called it “public art”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tom Hanks stood on the deck of this house to film Sleepless in Seattle….. can you see it?

 

 

 

 

A view of the Space Needle from Lake Union-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is such a cool old boat- but what I really loved was the rocking chair top-side!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

the difference between a boat house and

 

a house boat

 

 

NOW those are house boats!

 

 

 

 

Ride the Duck tour over so we decided to go up into the Space Needle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I don’t know why…but my hair looks so red! That duck ride messed me up! Or is my hair always this color and I need to be on top of the Space Needle to see it!

 

 

 

 

Trying to get a “couple” shot…..

 

 

 

 

 

still trying…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

That one will have to do!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hey! We could see the car from the top of the Space Needle! It is the red one! Looks like some guy was gonna break into it while we were watching! He didn’t though- but how funny would that be!

 

 

 

 

 

The view from the top! Such a nice day for this!

 

 

 

 

 

This was a weird thing….we took a picture standing on top of the Space Needle facing the glass so it was a reflection of the city and us- it is sorta strange in that if you look you can see someone inside walking around- I was sure I didn’t have a random arm poking out of the front of me!

We also walked around the park around the area a bit. Here is a quote I like carved into a rock…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And the last photo…. my favorite one

I took this! I shall call it “can’t see the Space Needle for the trees” by Lisa

It was an adventure filled day! Jim is snoring and the hot tub is calling!

More tomorrow from Seattle- this is Lisa signing off…..

p.s. if you click the picture I think you can see them bigger!