Category Archives: Travel

Oregon: The Good, the Bad, and the Emotional

Posted on by

OK… just got back from Oregon. In true ::Meditatio:: style, here’s my rundown of it all.

The Good
[+] Seeing parts of my family again that I haven’t seen in more than 15 years.
[+] Seeing some old neighbors again, especially since I’m essentially an adopted daughter. 🙂
[+] Meals with 12-20 family members.
[+] Banana coconut frappucinos every day.
[+] $tarbucks and breakfast in bed on Sunday. (Thanks Mommy!)
[+] Playing in the surf in Lincoln City.
[+] Bush Park in Salem (where my former neighbors retired to and where they are uber-involved in things).
[+] The C terminal at Sea-Tac.
[+] Playing in Ritner Creek with two very adorable little boys.
[+] “Desire of the Everlasting Hills” by Thomas Cahill. (Re-reading it for the first time in 6 years.)
[+] Family picture slideshows.
[+] Climbing over gates and through blackberry bushes to get to the house where my grandfather grew up.
[+] My brother’s reading of High Flight.
[+] Making it through “Let All Things Now Living” at the memorial service without crying.
[+] Blackberry green tea frappucinos from $tarbucks.

The Bad
[+] Being allergic to the entire state of Oregon.
[+] Wicked PMS.
[+] Grass pollen.
[+] Stupid meth makers who have forced states to require the signing over of one’s life to get a flipping box of Claritin.
[+] Prickliness of blackberry bushes.

The Emotional
[+] Saturday morning.
[+] Speaking about my grandfather and the letter I was putting in the tacklebox.Â? (My grandfather’s ashes were buried in his tackle box. Believe me, it was very fitting.)
[+] Listening to various family members speak on Saturday morning, especially my cousin’s kids.
[+] Sitting with crying family members.
[+] Watching planes take off and land at Sea-Tac this morning. (My grandfather was a pilot for the U.S. Navy and then for United Airlines for 30+ years.)
[+] The poem my cousin Sari wrote for the funeral service. (She couldn’t read it so it was placed in the tackle box.)
[+] Everyone taking a shovel full of dirt and placing it on the box.
[+] Saying good-bye to everyone yesterday.

'Ich liebe dich Opa' is 'I love you Grandpa' in German

On the Road

Posted on by

I’m at the Red Lion Airport Inn in Portland.Â? I’ve been in Oregon since Thursday for my grandfather’s burial service.Â? It’s been wonderful to see family and hang out but I’m really looking forward to getting home tomorrow and seeing my kitties.

Will post tomorrow once I’m home.Â? My mind is racing so I’ll probably have reflective schtuff to post.

Home At Last

Posted on by

I said good-bye to my grandfather for possibly the last time on Tuesday afternoon.Â? He told me he loved me and I told him I loved him.Â? Since this is me, the tears were flowing.Â? Mom and I drove to Everett where she dropped me at the train station where the tears commenced flowing again.

I was all ready to get on the train at 5:45 but… that unfortunately was not in the plans thanks to a crane accident in Seattle.Â? I was stuck in Everett until 10 p.m. and around 8:45, I just lost it and started sobbing.Â? (There’s more to this story but it’s nothing I’m mentioning in a public entry.)Â? When I finally got on the train, my bed was folded down for me and the porters brought me food.Â? They got big hugs for that.

I got home around 4 this afternoon.Â? I am tired and a little too angsty about some things in my personal life to say much more.Â? At least I’m home with my black cat (and the others… and of course Jon).

A Word from Seattle

Posted on by

Well… the Lenten abstention from soda lasted all of a day and a half. Oh yeah… I also ate meat on Friday.Â? Were it not for my two afghan squares a day, my soul might be in mortal danger.Â? 😛

Things are not as severe as I thought they were going to be.Â? Physiologically, my grandfather isn’t doing badly but his mind is really confused. Â? He can still recite MANY stanzas of poetry (since they had to do lots of memory work in school back in his day) and I’ve sung a couple hymns to him.Â? It’s actually been not that sad for me to be here and see this — it’s been more of a time of blessing for me because I’m getting about 7 hours a day with him and I’m able to sit and hold his hand and be present.Â? The sadness will probably come when I head home.

On a more positive note, I was able to have a lovely evening with my friend Melissa with whom I spent 3 years at UCSC.Â? The two of us headed to Applebees and then back to her apartment to watch the Oscars and talk.Â? She is literally the world’s most sweet and giving person and I’m really blessed to have her as my friend and to get to see her the last couple times I’ve been in Washington.Â? I really miss having her around since she’s very much like me in terms of faith and convictions.

I head back to Montana tomorrow and I’ll arrive sometime on Wednesday morning/afternoon depending on how late Amtrak is.Â? One nice thing: they messed up my reservation date coming here so my accomodation got upgraded to a deluxe family bedroom (i.e. my own sink and bathroom as well as more space).

Back to the crocheting I go!

Seattle-Bound

Posted on by

I’m heading to Washington on Thursday night to be with my family for a couple days.Â? Things are starting to wind down with my grandfather.

Pray hard.