Prelude

This is fair warning that I am in the last two days of my summer trip to the Pacific Northwest to visit my family.  When I get home, I will be collecting my thoughts and writing about my experiences.  Those who get bored with that sort of thing should be prepared.

Summer is short in the PNW, so when the sun shines and the days warm up, people come out of the woodwork to enjoy the sights and sounds of this beautiful place.  One thing I have discovered about long-term residents here: they love their state.  There is no "ho-hum" mentality to the sameness of the climate, nor do folks ever get tired of seeing the value of their resources.  For instance, when atmospheric conditions permit them to actually see Mt. Rainier, they have a declaration:  The Mountain is out!

I must say that summer has been slow to reach Washington this year.  For most of my trip, I wore sweatshirts and long pants.  While the rest of the country has been experiencing very hot, humid weather, we have been naturally air conditioned.  I have found that Washington is much like parts of northern California in that the weather can change drastically from one location and elevation to another, without too many miles separating them.  Unlike my other trips during the fall/winter, we only really had one day that could be described as rainy.  We had clouds many days, and cool most days, with sprinkles a couple of days, yes.  But most of the time, it was largely dry.  Yay!

Before I write a single word about our adventures, however, I have to mention my hosts.  Before I even arrived back in June, my daughter spent much time and consideration in planning a nine-day family vacation trip during my already-vacation stay, and spent--I'm guessing--hundreds of dollars booking experiences and accommodations.  (It very well could have been thousands.)  We bought and planned and packed.  Everyone was on board.  I contributed a couple of tanks of gas and several meals and treats along the way, and a little spending money for the kids, but my offerings were a drop in the bucket.  My son-in-law--the provider for all of this--made it all happen, both physically and financially.  He enjoys traveling as much as the rest of us.  My daughter is the ultimate tour guide.  The children were awesome, even though somewhat inconvenienced by having Grandma at home and on the trip with them.  What absolute troupers they are!!  I have gained a lot of respect for my young-adult grandbabies.  They are awesome!

"Awesome" is a word I will use often in the next few blog entries.  I have seen some awesome sights!

My mother always quoted, "All good things must come to an end".  It's sad, really, but true.  As we wend our way back to the Seattle area tomorrow, and I head back to the Midwest two days later,  I'm not really sad.  I will miss my family desperately, of course.  (My life revolves around them, although I am not sure that they know it.)  As much as I love it here in the glorious PNW, I also love my Midwestern roots and my little home-on-a-slab where my disabilities barely show up because the house is so small.  Yes...as my radio friend Harold used to say, I'm ready to "change positions".  And I'm betting every nickel I have that my family (that loves me) will be happy to go back to their pre-Grandma condition, as well !!  Grandparents always say that they are delighted to see their visiting family come, but then are always relieved when they go.  I am 100% sure it works the other way, too!

I am so blessed.  Please just help me pray that the flight(s) home will be uneventful.