Monday, October 19, 2009

There and Back

Seattle
Kubota Gardens



Vancouver



I left Friday in torrential rain, bound for Seattle on a Greyhound bus. I was met at the station by the Photographer, rallied at home with the Fibre Artist, then spent the weekend visiting with them, and eating and drinking exceedingly well. We talked, laughed, teared up, went for a walk to the nearby gardens, drove on the freeway with death-defying manoeuvres in bucketing rain to get to a wool shop, shopped for yarn and patterns, meds and groceries, and sat in unexpected Sunday sunshine in the backyard, drinking tea, eating homemade cookies, and listening to a hummingbird's chirrup.
Unfortunately, on my first morning there, I awoke with a very sore throat so was not at my best the entire weekend. I blame this sad state of affairs for my pathetic lack of photo-making activity!
Aside from my friends, do you know what I love best about the U.S.A.? Australian wine for sale cheap cheap cheap at a pharmacy! Now that's what I call good medicine!





It was a wonderful tonic to meet up with two of my oldest, dearest friends.

12 comments:

  1. Where you said "it was a wonderful tonic to meet up with...", I would bet the shirt on my back that Saj was wondering if there was any gin with that tonic...

    May your sore throat and cold get better fast ! There've been alot of bad colds going around here too, without even mentioning flu cases out of season.

    The garden looks lovely... what a beautiful tree with all its curving branches... while the "Priority Boarding" under a US flag looks a bit... I don't know what... clinical ? Surgical ? Inhuman ?

    Am off to work, one more week now to go, then two weeks vacation !!! Yippppeeee !!!

    PS the WV is "calin", now how's that for a nice one for once...

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  2. One thing I sort of admire about the "Americans" is their almost fanatical pride regarding the "Old Glory" flag. Makes one wish that Canadians would be so inclined with
    ours.

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  3. Cher Owen, Un petit calin pour moi? C'est beau!

    I was taken with the symbolism of the "priority boarding" and "pay as you go" messages in conjunction with the American flag, especially as it was a rather old-fashioned, fringe-bedecked specimen. And the Seattle bus station itself is a down and out wreck of a depressing hole. I don't know how the employees there maintain their level of helpful polite pleasantness. I suppose they're just very grateful to have a job.

    Another 2 weeks vacation, Owen? So that's what kept you going through the recent hard nights at the office. The proverbial carrot cake dangling at the end of the daily breadstick. I guess you'll be off to Disneyland?

    So you're a maths guy?! Isn't it funny how life throws curve balls at us and it's up to us whether we duck out of their way or connect with them. Lucky for us (your blog devotees) that you erred on the side of the arts!

    Ironic that I got sick on this trip west. I had just been bragging to the Photographer upon my arrival that I never get sick (the subject of H1N1 had reared its snubby snout), and then I awoke the next morning with my throat on fire.

    A little gin with my tonic? Better that than the Buckley's cough syrup my mother is trying to force feed me!

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  4. Hi Shirl! I, too, am bemused by the omnipresence of "Old Glory" wherever one goes in the U.S. of A. I'm not keen on rampant nationalism and worshipping a piece of cloth but I do like the bright colours! It's amazing how much emotion a symbol can evoke. Remember Grandpa standing up and putting his hand over his heart when the American flag went by in a parade past the house in Clovis? And then there's the way athletes get all teary when their countries' flags are raised at award ceremonies.

    I think part of the "problem" with the Canadian flag is that it is relatively new. I mean, we remember a time before it existed, don't we. At least the Great Canadian Superstore proudly flies a big one!

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  5. As I went to Spain from the North of Germany, by bus five times, would like to thank you for that memory.
    Hopefully you are feeling better. Sitting here in 'old Europe' it is always of interest to read about the life and its way at the other side of the Atlantic.
    Pharmacies here in Athens are closed during the afternoons of Monday, Wednesday and Saturday the whole day...

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  6. was there bum scooting with G&S?

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  7. Hi Robert, I'm happy when I evoke good memories for you! I remember taking a couple of bus trips in Spain, through winding mountains, and once behind a run-away mule who stayed in front of the bus for a very long time, galloping like mad.

    We're very much used to the "conveniences" of life (ie. shopping) at all hours of the day. I think there would be rioting in the streets if pharmacies here were closed as in Athens. But pharmacies here are more like department stores! Crazy. I hope you're having a good week.

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  8. Hi C! (can you hit it? a high C? Or are you taking to the high seas?) But I digress before I've even begun.

    Although there was no official bum scooting with G&S, it was fondly referred to. S spoke with great affection for you, speaking of nice emails she'd had from you not long ago on woolly subjects. They were hungry for news of your life. Their marriage is as old as you are! "They knew you when..."

    Vive la resistance!

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  9. A thousand pardons if I shouldn't ask, but may one know what "bum scooting" is ? Hope the Saj doesn't see that one, she'd have a field day ! I on the other hand, am very restrained... although perhaps one could venture to guess if it isn't a social program whereby homeless bums living on the streets are provided with free scooters in order to scoot around town on ? No, I doubt it, that's a bit far fetched...
    :-D

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  10. Ah too late! I'm here!!
    Bum scootin? I did get pictures of when our ol' dog used to drag herself about the place on her bum....and my friends baby used to get about by bum-scootin'....I do like Owen's analogy tho (hehe spot the sneaky pun??)

    As for your trip, I'm so jealous I'm not going to tell you where I've hidden the basement key!

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  11. Owen and Saj!
    Owen's "analogy" (yes, Saj,I did catch the sneaky pun) is indeed an intriguing and creative one (amazing what a mathematical brain turned artistic can come up with). However, Saj, with her innate wisdom, is closer to the mark. But not the mark of the beast; more like the starting mark for a race across the kitchen floor on one's bottom. Actually, it involved my baby and my good friend and a whole lot of giggling, about 26 years ago.

    And while we're on the subject, "Bottoms up!"--enjoy the moonshine. ;-D

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  12. P.S. I think I just mooned you on my blog!

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