About Faith

A year or so ago, my granddaughter asked me to be a part of a generations project for a class.  Part of the many assignments was to share letters about differences between generations.  She was to write me with questions to which I would respond, then she was to draw conclusions on her own.

In response to one of her questions (I forget what it was now), I explained my belief that people need faith.  I call myself a Christian; that is to say, I go to church and abide by Christian principles for the most part, but I have never, ever, believed or said that people need organized religion in order to lead good and virtuous lives.  Unfortunately, Robin took away from my advice to have "faith" that she needed religion.  She later told me that we weren't on the same page with that.  It was only then that I realized that either I had given her the wrong message, or she had misinterpreted what I said.

The only thing I was trying to impart--to Robin and to every student I ever had, when the subject came up--is that we human beings are flawed.  If the only thing we have faith in is ourselves, we are doomed to failure because, deep down, every person is looking for love and guidance.  That's what parents are for.  When we are young, parents make our decisions for us and look out for our comfort and safety. When we are adults, who or what guides us?  We have to find something to act as a parent for us.  Ourselves?  But...but...we are "only human". We make mistakes.  Sometimes BIG mistakes.  So where to turn?  Therein lies my belief that all we need to have faith in something more powerful than ourselves.  Every culture in every country on Planet Earth has faith in some higher power.  God?  Jesus?  Mohammed?  Buddha?  Love?  Nature?  Satan?  Zeus?  Does it matter?  What matters is what gives us peace.  Even the most hard-wired scientists of the world understand and respect that the natural order of things is beyond human comprehension.  Ignoring our spirituality is a mistake.  I was just advising Robin to find and keep something to believe in.        

Ryan (my grandson) has already declared that he doesn't believe in the Bible.  The stories are just too much against realistic possibilities.  I don't blame him.  I have my own questions about that stuff, but I still want him to believe in something spiritual.  I like it when the grandkids are here and attend church with me.  They do so under duress, but I can't believe they are hurt by it.  It gives me a feeling of completeness...that they care enough about what I believe in to be there by my side in the pew.  They do it for me...and I like that.

There is an episode of The Andy Griffith Show, where Opie (a young boy) has an imaginary horse, and everyone thinks it's cute.  But then he comes up with what everyone thinks is an imaginary friend--Mr. McBeavey, who walks in the trees, wears a silver helmet, jingles when he walks, and can make smoke come out of his ears.  It's only when Opie comes up with a hatchet that Mr. McBeavey gave him...and then a quarter...that Andy (his father) tries to force him to admit that Mr. McBeavey isn't real, just like his imaginary horse.   Opie won't/can't do it because Mr. McBeavey is real.  (The audience already knows this.) Andy decides that Opie needs a "whippin'" because his son isn't telling the truth.  When he confronts Opie about it, Opie begs his father, "You believe me, don't you, Pa?  Don't you believe me??"  Andy leaves the room without punishing Opie, and when others question Andy about it, he is asked, "So do you believe in Mr. McBeavey?"  Andy answers, "No, but I believe in Opie."  He also mentions that his boy has been asked to believe what would otherwise seem unbelievable, so it was his turn to give up what he thought he knew about reality in favor of his kid. The happy ending is that Andy goes to the woods and finds the real Mr. McBeavey.

My point in mentioning that is how much we expect children to believe what is beyond their senses. God becomes a sort of Santa Claus.  All you have to do is ask him for things and they appear.  It's only later that they come to understand that there is no magic.  There aren't always happy endings.

Truth be known, I am often ashamed to admit that I am a Christian, based on the behavior of others who also make the same claim.  I submit to you yet another story:
My daughter, Megan, when her children were very young, was seeking support and comaraderie with a local MOM group.  It was Christian-based.  Meg related to another friendly mother and so sometimes called her for support.  At one point, the other mother said, "If you were a better Christian, you wouldn't have these problems."  In one statement, the woman dashed every positive thought my daughter ever had about Christianity...and my hopes to bring her to a community of faith.  The irony?  Awhile later, Megan found herself behind this woman's car at a McDonald's drive-thru on a summer's day when the windows were down.  She heard this gal yelling at her kids, "I'M GOING TO KICK YOUR ASS WHEN WE GET HOME!"  Even on a bad day, Megan would not have talked to her children that way!

Meg and family are now UU's--Unitarian Universalist.  In the beginning, I worried that it was anti-Christian but came to know that UU's are all-inclusive and leave no one out due to religious beliefs or status in life.  I think I'm there!

Edwin Markham said it, and I repeat as my mantra in these trying times:

“He drew a circle that shut me out-

Heretic , rebel, a thing to flout.
But love and I had the wit to win:
We drew a circle and took him in !

Wake Up, Women of America!

This post is a little bit about Donald Trump, our 45th President, but it is mostly about American women and where we go from here.

Prior to his election--maybe even a couple of years prior--Mr. Trump was caught saying these things.  (The language is his, not mine.)  And I quote:

"I did try and fuck her. She was married. I moved on her like a bitch, but I couldn’t get there. And she was married. Then all of a sudden I see her, she’s now got the big phony tits and everything. She’s totally changed her look. I’ve gotta use some Tic Tacs, just in case I start kissing her. You know I’m automatically attracted to beautiful — I just start kissing them. It’s like a magnet. Just kiss. I don’t even wait. And when you’re a star they let you do it. You can do anything… Grab them by the pussy. You can do anything." 

Let's look at this objectively.  Take out the fact that this man would go on to run for the highest office in the land and win by electoral votes.  What's wrong with this?  I mean, he's a man, right?  Boys will be boys, right?  Here's my take:

1.  He knows gutter words, and he knows how to use them.  Congratulations.  That puts him on a par with almost every junior high level male on the planet whose mommy didn't teach him that it's not nice to use those words in public.

2.  He has no respect for the institution of marriage.  The woman to whom he refers was married, which apparently makes her a challenge for conquest rather than a person.

3.  He can't control his sexual impulses.  If he can't control those, what other impulses can he not control?

4.  He objectifies the woman in question.  She is reduced to an image, complete with references to her breasts and beauty.  Nothing at all about her character or brains.

5.  He recognizes that, because he is a "star", he can get away with anything--even sexual assault.  He seems to see women as his personal groupies.

I've seen #5 before.  Had an obese colleague in a school in Illinois once (in the early 70s) who told me I would "make pretty babies".  When I called him on how offensive that would be to other women who might not be as close to him as I was, he told me that no one ever took him seriously because he was fat.  Thus, he could get away with it.  In an instant, I knew he was right.   And so it is with Donald Trump.  He is rich.  That gives him privilege to be an ass.  When his quote came out in the media, he didn't apologize.  He didn't say that he was sorry if he offended anyone.  He dismissed his words as "locker room" talk, as if that made it all better.

Now here is the crux of my message:  D. Trump is right.  "And when you're a star, they let you do it. You can do anything.  Grab them by the pussy.  You can do anything."
Every time a man cheats on his wife, he is cheating WITH someone.  Some other woman has chosen to believe his lies or cooperate with them--or maybe even create them for him.  For whatever reason, they have given up the only thing they truly own in life--their bodies--to men who use them.  Then they are totally shocked and hurt when the man disappears, and they are left alone and lonely.  Here's a newsflash: it takes two to tango.  You can't be left behind, alone and pregnant, if you don't get pregnant in the first place, if you catch my drift.

I am a woman.  I am the mother of a woman, and the grandmother of a woman.  It pains me that the leader of our country has shown himself to be guided by his penis rather than his brain, but it pains me more to know that we, as women, continue to fall into the trap.

What is the trap??  Sexism and misogyny are so ingrained into our national fiber that neither men nor women even recognize it when it smacks them in the face.  My ex never failed to comment on a female newscaster's appearance but did not do so for male newscasters. I've seen the same sentiment a hundredfold later with candidate Hillary Clinton.  Even got an email from a radio friend telling me that I should give Mrs. Clinton lessons in appearance because the "last time [he] saw her, she looked like a bag lady".  (I confess that I cracked up on that.  I asked him when it was he last saw her.  State dinner?  Meeting at the Executive Office?  Then told him that the next time I saw her, I'd be sure to give her tips on how to spiff herself up because we all know that the way we look is more important than what we do when we are female!)

How guilty are we, as women?  Pretty guilty!  Not so much with middle class ladies, but if you are rich and famous and get to rub elbows with other rich and famous people?  VERY guilty!  Look at the Kardashians.  Need I say more??  Women of America, no one can take advantage of you if you won't let them.  Women of America, stop going to bed with men who are going to desert you the minute something is expected of them.  Women of America, don't stop marching.  If you think old rich men are going to stand up for you, think again!  Women of America, stop waiting for these rich old men to "give" you rights that are already yours for the taking.  The hand that rocks the cradle, rules the world.  

Christmas at Home

After all of the Seattle travels, I had four days to get my house ready for my grandchildren and their father and stepmother for a slightly more than two-day visit over Christmas.  The grandchildren were flying from Seattle to O'Hare in Chicago on Christmas Eve, where they would be picked up by their dad at some ungodly early hour, then would ride the four-hour trip to Indy.  What's in Indy?  The grandparents.  Both sides.

A word about relationships here.  (I know I have written about this before, so forgive me if I repeat myself.)  My grandchildren's father is my former son-in-law.  His parents, because of his marriage to my daughter, are good friends of mine.  We also attend the same church.  When our kids split up, we made it our mission to make certain that the grandchildren weren't handicapped by ego-centric hard feelings.  We acknowledged that both of our children had made mistakes in their marriage, and we decided to take the high road.  They continue to be supportive of my daughter, and I continue to be supportive of their son.

The other grandparents (Judy and Phil) have a small house, the same as I, but through improvements and additions, our homes both have four bedrooms.  The difference is that I live alone in mine, but they are three people--a son lives with them--which takes up two of their bedrooms, and boxes of belongings take up their other two.  Thus, when Nathan and Kendra--my grandchildren's father and stepmother--come to visit for whatever reason, I open my house to them.  Whether they are coming for a family reunion, the Indianapolis 500, a holiday, or whatever, they have a place to stay, with or without my grandchildren.  It is never my intention for them to include me in their plans.  I try to accommodate their needs, but they more than cover those, themselves.  Kendra always leaves things better than she found them!

The family arrived on Christmas Eve day just before noon.  The grandchildren, who had been flying all night and on the road all day, so far, said hi and went right to bed.  Later, they went to Judy and Phil's for supper, and we all met up to go to the 7:00 PM service at church.  We got there 30 minutes early, but it was too late!  We ended up having to sit in the overflow section in the narthex.  When the service was over, the family split for the door before I even got myself put together.  They beat me home!

Kendra is converting to Judaism, and Christmas Eve was the first day of Hanukkah.  When we all gathered at home, she brought out her menorah (with tiny little oil cups for candles), and we gathered for the traditional prayers.  The kids got their first-day-of-Hanukkah presents.  I popped popcorn while they played a card game.  It was nice!

On Christmas Day, we all went to Judy and Phil's for a delightful dinner and gift exchange.  I came home after a bit, but the family stayed for awhile.  (I like that, actually, because I feel that they all need a chance to visit without my intrusion.)  Everyone played cards again after lighting the second Hanukkah candle.  We had a good time.

The next day, the 26th, they prepared to leave.  Kendra was having problems with her car stemming from an oil change a couple of weeks before that.  They found a Jiffy Lube to address the problem before leaving Indy.  (Turned out that the oil was over-filled by a quart.)  In any case, they all got back to the Chicago area safely.  Yay!

On New Year's Day, the grandchildren flew back to Seattle after a successful week of being with their father and stepmother (and old grandparents).  In spite of all of the twists and turns of this season, I can't remember a reason to be happier.  Christmas 2016 was one of the best ever!

Seattle Trip--Pike Place Market and Gingerbread Houses

When I was in Seattle last spring, the family took me to a place called Pike Place Market.  It is a public market where artists and food growers and fishermen sell their wares.  And what a place it is!  There, you can buy anything from trinkets to t-shirts, huge flower bouquets, fresh fruits and vegetables, and fish, fish, and more fish.  (And it ain't cheap!)  The market is perhaps most famous for having a booth "where they throw the fish".  (Other booths will advertise their locations by mentioning their proximity to "where they throw the fish".)  Bystanders come to wait and watch for someone to buy a whole fish so the guys that attend the booth can throw it from where it is on ice in front to where it gets packaged and paid for behind the counter.  Sometimes the fishmongers get cute and throw the fish back and forth several times, deliberately making it look as though a bystander will get hit with a flying fish.  And all the while, the mongers are yelling, "Hey---yo!"  It's quite an attraction!

The last time I was there, Robin and Denis stopped at a shop that sold made-to-order crepes.  Robin had one that that was filled with Nutella and sliced strawberries, topped with whipped cream.  She reluctantly gave me a couple of bites...and I have lusted after it ever since!  I vowed that if I ever got back to the market, I was going to have one of those.  In fact, I even suggested that we should take Shari to the market just so she could experience it this trip.  Thus, one day we decided that we would "do" Seattle.

At first, we thought about going up in the Space Needle, but a quick peek at expenses for that venture made me think our money could be put to better use.  Parking = $18.  Admission for the two senior citizens = $19 each.  Admission for the other four in our group = $21 each.  Yikes!  So much for that! So, Pike Place Market (and the crepe shop), here we come!

Last spring, the market was crowded with people.  It was hard to get around, especially for a person pushing a rollator (one of those walkers on wheels, with a seat in the middle), which I needed in order to be mobile.  This trip, however--due to the season and day of the week--it wasn't crowded at all. We were actually able to enjoy browsing.  We did take the time to go into the alley to view the Gum Wall--another famous feature of Pike Place Market.  Somewhere in its history, people started affixing chewed gum to the bricks all along the walls of the alley, and the feature became an attraction.  I guess in the summer, it smells pretty strongly of gum out there.  In the winter, however, it wasn't so noticeable.  At one point, Megan, Denis, and Robin wanted to go walk around the shops outside.  The old gals--Shari and I--decided to stay inside.  (I forgot to mention that Ryan stayed home that day.)  We arranged to meet back up in an hour in front of the fishmonger's booth, and off they went.

Shari and I mostly just browsed.  She did find a booth with some things she wanted to buy for the folks back home.  At one point, I sought the restroom--which was a bad idea because the restrooms are on a lower level and the elevator was totally confusing about where to get off to use them.  Also, the elevator was tucked away in a very hidden spot, and there was a homeless drunk guy leaning up against the wall commenting incoherently to anyone about anything.  He gave me the creeps, so we forgot the restroom idea and went on about our business.  But guess what?  The drunk guy wound up where we were two more times.  At one point, he was begging for a cigarette.  We would have given him one, but I figured it would just be an excuse for him to hang around us longer.  We decided to let him annoy someone else--which he did.  Yuck!

By the time we met back up with the rest of the family, everyone was hungry.  Meg and Den had found a diner-type restaurant that had a decent menu, so we went in there.  It wasn't crowded, and the food was good.  Full bellies and full day made for tired people!

Also on our docket for Seattle was a stop at Kerry Park.  It is just a little overlook-type spot above Puget Sound.  The last time I was there in the spring, it was a clear day and the view of the Seattle coastline with Mt. Rainier in the distance was stunning.  I wanted to share that with my sister.  Unfortunately, the cloud cover made viewing Rainier almost impossible.  Maybe next time!

Not sure what particular evening it was, but everyone agreed it was a good time to put together the gingerbread houses from the three kits Megan had bought.  The houses were already structurally assembled.  All we had to do was use the candies and icing that were provided in order to decorate them.  We worked in teams:  Megan and Robin, Denis and Ryan, and Shari and me.  We had fun making a gigantic mess of the table (and the floor).  The door on the house that Shari and I made had vertical stripes to represent boards, and a horizontal stripe to make it a Dutch door.  Megan declared it looked like a jail.  (Humph!)  The boys' house went a little on the dark side.  They couldn't get one of their gingerbread men to stand up properly, so they killed him off.  He lay murdered on the ground next to the house, with the words "You're next!" on the wall over his lifeless head.  Megan and Robin's house was, by far, the neatest and cutest.  Figures!  They hadn't been into the cooking sherry the way my partner and I were...but I'd hate for that to go to their heads.  (Megan found out that Cinnamon Fireball Whiskey makes great cough syrup.  And we all had coughs, you know...)  In any case, we enjoyed ourselves in the process of making the edible edifices!  I wonder if Hansel and Gretel would have approved?

All in all, our trip to Seattle proved fun and therapeutic for all but the people who were hosting us.  (I can't help but think it was just a marathon of busy-ness for them.)  Sister Shari had just lost her husband to a long-term illness in September, and while I was still with her in Illinois well into October, and my daughter was pressing me about holiday trip plans, Shari just blurted out that she'd like to go too...and the rest is history.  We did it.  Thelma and Louise pulled it off.  Thelma had a good time.  I think Louise did, too.  She tested her ability to leave her family behind by being with me for Thanksgiving and spending two weeks away from them during December.  She got to see and do things she might not otherwise have been able to do see or do--memories that will last a lifetime.

Four days after we returned to the Midwest, and two days after Shari returned to IL, my grandchildren flew to Chicago to be with their father and wife for a week, and they came here to share Christmas/Hanukkah with me and their other grandparents across town for a couple of days while Megan and Denis left on a mini-vacation to Canada.  Shari was able to host her traditional Christmas with her family.  All is right with the world.  New experiences.  New perspectives.  Now on to 2017!

Seattle Trip--Christmas Celebration

My sister Shari and I arrived at my daughter's in Bothell, WA (a suburb of Seattle) on December 5th. Our return flight was booked for December 20th.  My grandchildren were to fly to Illinois to visit their father on the 24th to Jan. 1st, and my daughter and son-in-law had vacation reservations that would take them to Canada from the 24th to the 31st.  Thus, we had to fit a Christmas celebration in there, somewhere.

As flyers, Shari and I could not carry Christmas presents in checked bags.  I placed some orders online and had them shipped to Bothell and did my best to come up with things that people wanted. Still, we were aware that we needed to do some shopping while there.  One day, Meg took us to a mall.  Another time, Denis took us to a big box store.  In the process, we came up with a whole bunch of stocking stuffer thingies.

My granddaughter is a fan of all things Japanese.  While at the mall, we came upon a store called Daiso Japan, which is a sort of Dollar Tree for Japanese ware (much of which is made in China) where most things are cheap, cheap, cheap.  In there, I came up with a ton of stuff that I thought Robin would like in her stocking, and some for Ryan...and the grand total at the cash register came to just slightly more than $20.  Yeah!  Normally, I spend twice that per stocking, with no real appreciation for what's in there.  I heard Robin say, however, that this was her best Christmas stocking ever.  I'll take that!

Megan claimed going into the week that she had nothing for anyone for Christmas.  Ooookay.  Shari and I had stockings full of nice Microsoft stuff, from coasters to pens that serve as computer styluses to yummy candies, etc.  I got what I had asked for--night wear--and Shari, who wasn't expecting a thing, got a nightgown with an owl on the front with the text, "Owl always love you."  (Shari collects owls.  It was perfect!)  Meanwhile, the things I got for everyone weren't so secret because they had been requested...but one of them was requested while I was there...as an afterthought.  I didn't say anything but went about the business of getting it from Amazon and having it shipped to Bothell.  On the day of our "Christmas", Meg said, "This seems too heavy for a cheese slicer."  Ouch!  It WAS a cheese slicer, but with a marble base instead of wood.  I wanted to strangle her!

I got Denis a Seattle Seahawks hoodie on a whim, and a gaming mouse that he had requested.  There have been several vacation pictures with him wearing the hoodie, so I think that was a good idea.  Ryan got more hoodies.  Robin got money.  I feel bad about that because there is no way of knowing what she will spend it on, etc...but she is a picky one.  I'm not into buying things for people that they won't use or want.  Ugh!

As discombobulated as all of this sounds and felt, it was also liberating.  Christmas is all about togetherness.  Presents?  Yeah...those are nice...but not the reason for the season.  God provides!

Seattle Trip--Robin's Last Play Performance

If you have followed the saga of my latest Seattle trip at all, you already know that my granddaughter's last play performance (out of four) had to be rescheduled due to an unexpected snow day.  In fact, there was some concern that it wouldn't happen at all, but they were finally able to provide a day and time.  'Twas a Tuesday night...a school night...but the performance was probably the best yet.  Robin did a great job.  I thoroughly enjoyed it!  This time, we were sitting in the back of the little auditorium so didn't freeze.  After the performance, we stopped at a McDonald's for treats.

The family shared a booth.  Shari and I were at tables next to that booth, with Shari being the farthest from it.  Robin was riding a post-performance high; Ryan was being his usual squirmy self.  Shari noticed that Ry was in constant motion.  She mentioned "squirmy-worm" to me...and was probably thinking Ry had "ants in his pants".  Out of nowhere, she said (rather loudly so Ry could hear), "RYAN, DO YOU HAVE A WORM IN YOUR PANTS?"  As soon as she recognized what she'd said,  Shari clapped a hand over her mouth...but the damage was done.  Everyone dissolved into giggles the likes of which I haven't seen for many years. Megan laughed so long and so hard that she had tears running down her cheeks.   Even Ryan, who is easily embarrassed, laughed and laughed.  I'm not sure Great-Aunt Shari will be able to live that one down for awhile, and I've wondered if my children will ever want to take "Thelma and Louise"out in public again!

Seattle Trip--The Shari Incidents

Okay...so I have already written about my sister Shari's encounter with a sea gull.  There were other events, too.  She's going to feel bad about some of them, but I'm not reporting them to shame her--only to show how bad things can happen to good people!

The first thing that occurred was the breaking of the ceramic toothbrush holder in the half-bath.  It wasn't anything special--just your normal generic white holder with holes that look like a smiley face on top.  Probably cost less than three bucks at the local dollar store...but it happened to her, and it required cleanup.

And then she knocked over partial cup of coffee on the light-colored carpet in our bedroom.  More cleanup required.  When the cleanup was over, I couldn't even tell that anything had happened.  Good job!

Next was a little more serious.  Shari was preparing baked steak for our supper.  She needed the cooking oil in order to brown the steak, but the cooking oil was in the cabinet above the microwave over the stove.  Way too high for either of us to reach it.  The tall adults were gone.  The tall children were upstairs in their rooms.  She decided to use a chair to get to the cabinet, but the chair had other ideas.  After two attempts, it went one way, and Shari went the other--on the floor, flat on her back, hitting her head and her arm and who knows what else??  Some bits of onion that were on a cutting board went flying all over the kitchen.  When she landed, she was saying, "Stupid!  Stupid!  Stupid!"  I was saying, "OMG!  OMG!  OMG!"  I made her sit down while we assessed the damage.  She developed a big ugly bruise on the underside of her right arm...and of course, the onion was destroyed...but nothing was broken.  And the baked steak was delicious!

Toward the end of our stay, Shari was doing laundry upstairs.  As she came downstairs with a small laundry basket of clean clothes, the rubberized sole of her slippers caught on the carpet...and she went down.  Again.  Megan and I were in the kitchen area and heard it happen.  Meg went running when all I could do was sit there and mutter, "Please don't fall...please don't fall...please don't fall."  But Shari had fallen!  In the process, she tore off a chunk of skin on her knee through her jeans and was bleeding.  Meg plopped her down in a recliner, put a band-aid with antiseptic on the boo-boo, slapped an ice bag on top of that...and there she sat for awhile.  I know she felt stupid.  I'm just glad she wasn't broken!!!!!

When we got home to my house from Seattle, we decided to take a run up to Trader Joe's in Zionsville, IN.  I had hoped that the mishaps for Shari had stopped...but nooooo.  In my kitchen, she stubbed her toe on the table and gave herself a deep paper cut on a Trader Joe's grocery sack...and it bled!

I love my sister.  She's had some tough falls, etc., in the not-so-long-ago past--once, breaking a rib, and another time, breaking her wrist that required surgery.  If she's going to hurt herself, I prefer that she not do it on my watch!  Bubble wrap comes to mind...    

Seattle Trip--The Christmas Ship

This is an experience that will be hard to describe in words to my land-locked Midwestern friends because we don't have anything to top it.  Ever the tour guide to the Pacific Northwest, my daughter (Megan) booked us for something called the Christmas Ship Festival.  She has only lived in the PNW for a year, but she sure can find the neat things to do, even if she's never done them before, herself!

I don't know who, why, or how, but back in 1945, an event was organized in the Seattle area on Lake Union, and that event became a tradition.  This year, we would all be part of it!  The event takes place in the evening and consists of two big tour boats--the kind that usually operate as whale-watching vessels--all decked out with Christmas lights and decor.  They travel up Lake Union and back, making a couple of short stops along the way to pipe Christmas music to the masses.  The lead boat carries among its passengers a group of carolers, dressed in period costumes and singing into a sound system that is broadcast far and wide.  Both boats are double-deckers with a bar and bartender on both levels.  Inside, it was warm and festive.  Outside, it was clear and crisp.  And all along the route were lots of other boats--big boats and little boats--all lit up with Christmas lights and themes, some of which were competing in a contest for best decorations.  Many of the smaller boats were anchored in the various little bays of the lake.  Others sailed beside us in a parade of sorts.  (One such little boat was well lit and had a steaming hot tub on the open stern, with passengers dressed only in swimming trunks.  Methinks they had lots of "antifreeze" on board to keep them warm!)  Our view was of all of this, plus the lights from the shore...and a rising moon, almost full, just above skyline.  It was breathtaking!

But let me back up a bit.  We traveled to the dock area from which the Christmas Ships would depart. There was a really nice restaurant that had a full view of the water.  We ate dinner there.  Nice!  Lots of seafood on the menu, of course.  Other Christmas Ship participants were there, wearing Santa hats, etc.  (If we have occasion to do the event again, we'll be sure to bring ours, too!)  When it came time to board, we had a group picture taken with Santa on the dock.  We were booked for the second boat.  We got on board and settled in, and soon enough were under way.

Both stops on our voyage were for the purpose of broadcasting the carolers' music to the other boats and the landlubbers that had gathered along the shoreline just to be part of the festivities.  I didn't go out on deck for the first stop.  I could hear the music from inside, although the noise from the inside revelers made it a little hard to hear.  I just sat and looked and listened while sister Shari and the rest of the family enjoyed the music out on deck.  When Shari came in, I noticed some drops of white stuff down the sleeve of her red jacket.  Huh?  What's that?  It seems that while she was outside enjoying "Peace on Earth, Good Will to Men," a bird baptized her!  She said she felt the glancing blow in her hair but hadn't noticed it until I pointed it out.  Down her sleeve, across the back of her collar/hood...even a little on her neck scarf.  Missed her hair by...well...a hair.  She went up to the bartender to ask for paper towels to clean herself off.  He told her that was Seattle's good luck sign.  She should be lucky for the rest of the year!  Needless to say, we got a yuck out of changing the words to the song about Grandma being run over by a reindeer to "Grandma done got pooped on by a sea gull."  It could only happen to Shari!  I did go outside at the second stop on our voyage.  So very beautiful!

At the end of our "three hour tour" (Thank you, Gilligan!) we got in the car and went home, tired but happy.  That evening, my sister and I saw and did things we may never be able to see and do again.  It was magical.  I can't imagine how miserable it could be in rain or fog, but that night was clear and beautiful.  And I do think the resident family sees it as something they'd like to do again as part of their own Christmas traditions.  I'm sure it was expensive...so thank you Megan and Denis for our memories of a lovely evening!  All was calm; all was bright.

Seattle Trip--Meals

My daughter and husband are committed to doing Weight Watchers and were quite worried about getting off track when Aunt Shari and I were there.  We vowed and declared that we would do the dinner cooking according to whatever recipes she provided.  And we did.

Or should I say we tried?  Some of the recipes were labor-intensive.  The one that took the most time and effort (that Shari tackled) was the least satisfactory.  (Can't even remember what it was now.)  I fixed an enchilada soup that came out okay...and a couple of batches of Zero-Point Soup.  I did a stir-fry supper, and Shari provided a baked steak supper, both on our own recipes...and no one went hungry.

Everyone took care of themselves for breakfast and lunch.  Supper was a family deal.  Oh...there were a few mornings when I made a hot breakfast for the kids as they headed off for school.  I was accused of "enabling" them...but I think everyone understood that this wasn't something that would go on forever.  I can spoil my grandchildren.  It's my job!!

In spite of all, we got by.  We didn't have to send out for pizza...nor did we eat out much.  I think Denis brought home Subway sandwiches one afternoon.  We did eat out for Shari's birthday and at least two other times--for the Christmas Ship experience (more on that later), again at Pike Place Market, and Beardslee's close to our departure time.  It ain't cheap eating out in the Seattle area!!