On the go again! By train at the moment - just left Seattle, Washington headed to Portland, Oregon - only $31! I took this route before & loved it - so much water to see...and time to relax. My only regret is that the windows are dirty this time, which impacts the view, but it's still gorgeous. I'm sure they've had cutbacks like everywhere else these days.
Brings back memories of traveling through western Europe with a Eurail Pass with my friend Dianne Mosiman. Definitely a major factor in starting me on my wandering ways. and reinforcing & heightening my love of languages and learning about other cultures.
I love the sound of the train horn and the hiss of the doors as they slide open, and the gentle clackity-clack of the wheels on the rails and the slight rocking of the rail car. The last time I took trains in Europe, in the 90's they no longer had the rail sounds and rocking & I missed it.
I'm currently on the road unexpectedly - Dianne's parents both died in December, within 10 days of each other. They had been married 64 years and were in their 80s - he was 87. He had been into speed skating as a youth in Minnesota and didn't hang his skates up until he was 86! He always had a little grin on his face and a twinkle in his eye, and she had a permanent smile. They were pretty in tune, so in some ways it was no surprise that she passed away so soon after he did. I flew in for their joint service. Sadness at the loss, but what joy in hearing the stories, seeing so many friends and relatives, and sharing laughter and images. Such a close family.
From the moment Dianne arrived part way through my sixth grade year, I knew that I wanted to be her friend, and we have been through many, many, many experiences and adventures together, including being my "best woman" at my first wedding (when I was 53). I was always part of her whole family, and her brothers were my brothers before I knew I had some by blood.
So, first some time with Dianne and her family in Gig Harbor, WA and then over to Seattle to spend a couple of days with my cousin Ruth and her husband Tom and a visit with their daughter Audrey and also my long time friend Jenni Whitney. She had late stage breast cancer - had surgery almost exactly a year ago, with followup treatment, and now she's looking GREAT!
We never know how short life might be for any of us, so go for it NOW! Don't leave love and appreciation left unsaid. Most regrets are about things that we didn't do, more than what we did do ('and better to address those "did do" regrets now while you have time).
Anyway, off to Portland to see some friends and family, Not enough time to see them all, but even some of my Port Townsend friends will be in Portland while I'm there. Yahoo! Friends, family, attitude of gratitude.
Going al
ong South Puget Sound now - sun's out! Just passed the Tacoma Narrows Bridge(es) - check out this video of the time that the original span turned into one giant twisting wave form. I can't look at it on the train - if it doesn't work, Google "galloping gertie tacoma" - they use the film internationally in engineering classes to vividly demonstrate what can happen if certain precautions aren't taken. Caused by aeroelastic flutter during very strong winds, the wave collapsed the bridge just four months after it was built in July 1940.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-zczJX
"The mountains are out!" - a western Washington way of saying that the sun is shining! (variation:"The Mountain is out" - Mt. Rainier) -the Olympics are visible to the west and the Cascades to the southeast, glowing white. The Sierra Nevada has VERY little snow this year, so it was a nice surprise to see the whiteness (and the sun!)
Time to do more looking! More pictures next time if I have time to blog again. Flying back to Nevada Jan 22 - too bad Warren couldn't come, but what a joy when I get back to him. Married seven and a half years now.
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Snow in Portland. LOTS of snow in Seattle. Hurricane winds on the Oregon coast....so what's up with Nevada? Weather report says RAIN all week? Is that true? Coming back Sunday - let's see some blue sky or snow, OK? The snow can wait until I'm safely home......
Going along South Puget Sound now - sun's out! Just passed the Tacoma Narrows Bridge(es) - check out this video of the time that the original span turned into one giant twisting wave form. I can't look at it on the train - if it doesn't work, Google "galloping gertie tacoma" - they use the film internationally in engineering classes to vividly demonstrate what can happen if certain precautions aren't taken. Caused by aeroelastic flutter during very strong winds, the wave collapsed the bridge just four months after it was built in July 1940.
