Maki and I got home tonight from our little spring-break stint to Seattle. Its a city I’ve long been fond of, with two different sisters and their families living there (though one moved Chicago some years back.) It’s an easy trip from the OC, and pretty inexpensive, if I play my cards right. Usually I just wander around from coffee shop to coffee shop, searching for the perfect caffeinated cup, but with Maki by my side, I wanted this trip to be more about HIS experience. He’d never been, and with his dad unable to take him on adventures these days, and Justine taking most of my attention when we are all at home, I wanted to take the opportunity to spend some special time with him. He’s growing up so fast, I have to take the chance while he lets me! I’m only the step-mom, by the way, but I know his mom and his dad would each want to give him every opportunity to break up this challenging season, which he has been weathering like a star.
Maki was a great companion as we played tourist through the Emerald City. My sister, Cambria, has her office just down the street from Pikes Place, so of course it wouldn’t be right not to pay a visit tot he famous market. I bought him a finger slide for his guitar as a souvenir.
One of the residents of the nursing home, the day before we left, had mentioned an Underground Tour that until then, I had never heard of. We imagined, by his telling, a hidden city with cobbled streets. In the end, it was just a bunch of rubble left over from the great fire of 1889 but it was made fascinating by a talented storyteller of a tour-guide. I learned more about the history of the city than I ever had. And Maki, having learned a lot about early American History in his Social Studies class, was able to pepper my education with his own knowledge.
I had to get a photo of an old toilet, as Sewage Humor was a big part of the tour. No matter how mature you try to be, some things are always funny.
More tourist stuff: A visit to the Chihuly Glass museum.
Maki’s high point? The EMP museum, where we ran into a few old friends.
And got some Seattle-specific music history…
We also took a trip to Ballard, visiting two record stores…something I know Vernon would have wanted to experience with his son.
We also had lots of fun with Maki’s young cousins (who adore him.) Here they are, being the little geniuses they are, at the Museum of History and Industry.
And how can I forget? A trip to the crazy toy/joke store: Archie McPhee. Their tagline boasts: “Confusing Seattle for over 30 years!” Where else can you get an inflatable brain or a bacon-tuxedo? All the boys were into this place, regardless of the age differences.
High Points for me? Besides time with Maki and time with my sister and her family, I also got to spend some quality time with my dear friend from high school, Lucy. I also (thanks partly to air travel) got through two and half novels.
This never happens anymore…leaving my laptop at youngest child at home was a great idea. But I missed her very much, and we readily greeted each other with small gifts and long hugs.
As happens when I go away, I feel like I need the break, but the heaviness of what lies ahead comes back with double-force. I received a couple frustrating phone calls about Vernon’s state, while I was gone, and I am still at a loss as to how to work things for the better. Due to a miscommunication, he missed the AV port surgery he was supposed to have on Thursday, and the Dialysis Center tells me it is just too difficult to give him his treatments anymore without a sitter (professional or otherwise) This week, I hope to get some of these things sorted out. But I can’t do anything about it tonight. So until tomorrow, I’ll bask in the glow of a great trip with my step-son and the return to the cozy embrace of our little home.
I’ll miss the coffee though.