I woke in the fogged up car stiff and sore. I may be getting too old for this. We took our last, long walk on the beach as the sun rose over the sandy cliffs. We drove south, stopped at a trading post for gas and coffee, and headed towards Seattle, three hours away.
I entered the city from the south and I imagine it is the best way. First, you go through the Industrial District and the busy shipyard. Then the city skyline comes into view with the ferris wheel on the water and the Space Needle adding diversity among the more commonly-shaped buildings. I love the colors of the shipping containers and the grit of the shipyard against the shiny city skyline.
To this day, when I am driving on the Pike and drive by Fenway and can start to see the Boston skyline, my heart fills with joy, excitement, and pride and love for that city. Boston is home so it does have a leg up on everywhere else, but it’s not just that, because I had a similar giddy feeling driving into Seattle. Do you know when I don’t get that feeling? Driving into Denver. I think of Colorado and Denver as separate places. Colorado is incredible, but I have no feelings towards Denver. I don’t have negative feelings towards Denver, but I certainly don’t get butterflies coming home here.
Sarah’s shower and washing machine were as beautiful as her. After I was clean and the laundry was started, I could enjoy the company of my dear friends as well as some of their family that was already in town for the wedding and a couple of Niles’ friends I hadn’t met yet. We piled into a pick up with two guys and two dogs in the capped bed and went to the dog park at Woodland Park at Green Lake. Henley oddly got comfy in a cardboard box filled with what I hope was nothing important.
Later, we went down Ballard Ave. We got Mexican at La Carta de Oaxaca, molten lava cake at Hot Cakes, and cocktails at Percy’s. I can always rely on Sarah to bring me to the best places, even in my own city of Boston. She has great taste, which is why I keep her around.
When I was sitting at dinner with Sarah, Niles, and two of their friends shortly after arriving in this city I have been to only once before and with some people I had met only a couple hours prior, I felt happy, welcomed, and at peace, like I belong here.
It’s just something to think about.
It got even more interesting when the second large dog was brought in.
You’re always one decision away from a totally different life.
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