General Observations About the Pacific Northwest, Part I

I have visited Washington State three times now.  (Four, if I count the few hours spent there in 1958, when our ship docked in Bremerton when we returned from Japan.  I was 10-years-old then, so I don't generally acknowledge that as an actual visit.)  My reason for visiting?  My daughter and family moved there two years ago.  They live in Bothell, WA, which is almost-Seattle, in the same way that I live in Plainfield, IN, which is almost-Indianapolis.  Thus, I tell people at home that I visited Seattle, and I tell people out there that I live in Indianapolis.  It simplifies things, although neither statement is really true.

Visit #1 occurred in late-May, to early-June, 2016, for a couple of weeks.  This was a scant two months after the family moved into their new home.  At that time, they were experiencing an unusually warm and early springtime.  Worked for me!

Visit #2 occurred in early December of 2016, for 12 days or so.  I was accompanied by my newly-widowed sister who truly needed a break from the drama and stress of being the caregiver for her husband of 55 years who had suffered from dementia.  The visit included her 75th birthday.

Visit #3 just happened.  I left home on November 11th, and didn't return until December 27th, 2017.  Six weeks!  I am unsure how welcome the length of my visit was.  (Mother-in-law jokes aside.)  I tried my best to fit in...to help out...to provide support rather than be in need of it, myself.  This trip encompassed:  my grandson's 14th birthday, my daughter's (successful) cardiac ablation procedure, Thanksgiving, my granddaughter's school holiday concert, and Christmas.  (I am sooo thankful I could be there for all of that!)

Months before the latest visit, I joined two closed Facebook pages for both Woodinville, WA, and Bothell, WA.  (Although the family lives in Bothell, they are close to Woodinville.  In fact, my granddaughter goes to Woodinville High School.)  I was allowed in as a non-resident, mainly to spy on what is/was going on in their neck-of-the-woods, since I live so far away.  Before my visit, I started posting on the Bothell site, telling them that I was on my way.  "Look out!  Here I come!"

What I got in return for my Bothell posts was a wonderful barrage of welcomes.  Quite of few of the responding posts to what I wrote were from former Hoosiers.  Bloomington, Elkhart, Indy, Fishers.  One even told me that she was raised in Plainfield.  Small world!  One fellow asked me to eat a tenderloin sandwich for him--(tenderloins are an Indiana specialty)--and to bring White Castle to Washington.  Wish I could, just for him!  Everything I posted was met with understanding and support.  Some asked me to adopt them.  Some asked if they could party with me.  More than one expressed appreciation at seeing their state from the eyes of a "foreigner".  Most everyone agreed with my confusion over street names--even the old-timers.  One...ONLY one...was sensitive to my list of differences between the PNW and the Midwest.  (She, like many others, has been bitten by the way out-of-staters move in, then complain about traffic, etc.  The Seattle area is a major victim to this, where the infrastructure--including housing prices-- hasn't been able to keep up with the onslaught of move-ins.  Truly, I don't blame her at all!)

Truth be known, my connection to the Bothell Facebook site gave a huge boost to my positive mental attitude.  I was feeling somewhat useless and unnecessary.  These people, who didn't know me, haven't been down the same roads I've traveled and shouldn't care, gave me courage and validation.  I mean, I had hundreds of responses.  Obviously, I was fresh fish!  I even had to tell my daughter the same thing she told me when she was in middle school and I was making a presentation at her school:  These people think I'm wonderful.  Don't blow my cover!

Having set the scene, Act I will follow shortly.
Did I mention that it is COLD in Indiana right now?