Wild Wednesday- Winter Wonderland

Definitely cannot let this Wednesday slip by without making mention of the snow storm which swept through Western Washington. I was here in 2008, when the last 'big' snow storm hit and there was a definite difference this time. What was the difference?

First, people were encouraged to be prepared. Cities went on high alert. Houses were stocked up on needed supplies. Communication in regards to what to expect and what to do was prolific. The result was less people caught unprepared.

Second, people made wise choices. Once the storm hit, most people chose to remain indoors. "only go out if you absolutely have to" was the advice being given and the majority of the people chose to listen to that advice. The result of this meant fewer accidents on the road.

I found myself being far more productive this time, because I knew what to expect. My hubby and I have been wanting to turn our youngest daughter's old bedroom into a home office. What better time to do it than when we were stuck in the house with snow pounding down on us!  


Wanted to record this memory- because I know I had a record of the 2008 snow storm- and I wanted to have one of this year's storm. No children around this time- this definitely made it feel different- there was no rushing out into the snow to build a snow man. No sitting around drinking hot chocolate. There was a lot of moving furniture around and reading the Bible and praying. There was also a lot of me asking silly questions, "So hon, this is it- you and me- what do you think?"


"What do you mean, what do I think?"


"Do you think you'll get tired of me now that the kids are gone?"


"NEVER!"


"never?"


"I can't get enough of you....don't you know that by now?"

This was almost as good as when he told me, "I love you so much that I still want to go to the store with you when I'm angry at you"- the most romantic thing he could have ever said to me :) aaah...now you see why I love the guy???!!!

What is Seattle without.... Seattle, WA

What do you think of when someone says, "Seattle.".....Grey's Anatomy? Okay- of course not! You think of ...the Space Needle. What would Seattle be like without the Space Needle as a part of its skyline.

Although the space needle looks ever so futuristic, the idea for its construction was birthed in 1959 by Edward E. Carlson. This would later become the symbol of the 1962 Seattle's World Fair. It turned out to be harder than Carlson thought to get the structure up and in place. If you are interested in the history of how the Space needle came to be-click here. 


38 years later, the Space Needle serves Seattle as a great 'tourist' spot. Everyone wants to have their picture taken in front of the Space Needle. Others are willing to spring for the money to ride up to the top of the Needle ...to take more pictures and be able to say they were up there. Still others enjoy an expensive meal at the revolving restaurant on the top. 

Whatever the reasons you have for viewing or enjoying the Space Needle, you have to admit is has become an accepted part of Seattle. Now when someone says "Seattle"...what will you think of?

Seattle and Music

Seattle's music scene is diverse. I will not pretend to be an expert on music. My relationship with music is:  I love it; however, I barely play the piano...if I sing, people desire to be somewhere else...you get the general idea!

My children, on the other hand, love music beyond just listening to it. They play at least one or more instruments. They sing. They tell me Seattle is a wonderful place for music. They love the musical diversity Seattle offers. 


I'm sure anyone who comes to Seattle will have ample opportunities to visit any number of small clubs, music venues or restaurants which feature great music.

My daughters enjoying a 'sister's night out' in downtown Seattle.

 If you want to enjoy a festival with music, check out the list of Music festival's listed on the city of Seattle's website.

I'm in love

 Reading Le Monde's blog the other day set    
my brain in motion. Her blog talked of a recent trip to Malaysia and I was thinking of how she probably had seen more things than I had ever seen- although I lived there for many years. 

I guess when we live somewhere, we tend to take it for granted. We think, "I'll see such and such a place another day...when I'm not busy..." 

Sometimes I'm so busy talking about where I have been...I forget to mention where I am. The great Northwest, specifically Western Washington. I've been so many places in this world, but I must say this place has captured my heart. 


What about this place captivates me? Is it the greenery, the ample opportunities for hiking, the mountains, the pacific ocean? Is it the people? Is it the great accomplishments of business ventures in this region? Is it, possibly, my roots, which I have recently discovered are solidly lodged in this region? I'm not sure what it is. I do know I love it here.

Long Road==Jan 27 2010

 

He was supposed to be on a very different trip...climbing mountains...forging rivers...crashing through the jungles of Sabah. Instead, he flew across the world to see his sister who was dying. I picked him up from the airport on Tuesday night and we left Seattle before 3 am.

"Are you alright dad?"

"I'm fine"

We drove. At 5.15 am, he became deathly ill. We had to stop the car several times. We became familiar with the rest stops and the gas stations. By 5.35 am he suddenly- miraculously got better. At 7.30 the phone rang; his sister, my aunt, was gone...she died at 5.30 am. 

"Dad, are you alright?"

"I'm fine."

I reached across and patted his arm as we drove. As Lewis Carroll so aptly penned..."The time has come," the walrus said, "to talk of many things: of shoes and ships- and sealing wax- of cabbages and kings."...and so, we, on our seven hour journey down to Selma, Oregon, talked, laughed and I heard my father tell me stories I had never heard before. I asked questions I've never had a chance to ask. Finally we arrived at the mortuary ...Hull & Hull...in Grants Pass, Oregon. 

"I'm here to see my sister."

I let the kind gentleman know my father travelled from Sabah to Singapore to Seattle and now to Grants Pass, Oregon to see his sister. He looked very empathetic. I wonder if you go through a special course to work at a mortuary. Do they teach you to talk in an ultra soft voice? Do they train you to lean towards those grieving and nod your head at everything they say? If so- he was trained well.

"Would you like me to prepare her for you to view her...she has just come in...."

"No, I would like to see my sister just as she is."

"Give me one moment."

We waited. We commented on what a lovely mortuary it was. We viewed every picture on the wall. My father read the motto, "we are here for your today and your tomorrow." I asked again..."Are you alright?"

"I think it is better like this..."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, it might have been better that I didn't see her struggling in pain. Maybe it is better I am seeing her like this."

"Yes, I think so."

"I needed to come, even though I didn't make it in time."

"You are right."

"How could it have happened so fast? They just told me she was sick? She was well a week ago."

The kind man returned to usher us into a small room. He carefully explained her mouth was not totally shut and her eyes were not fully closed. He paused at the door to warn us of her body being there immediately when we entered the small room. He need not have worried about us and dead bodies...my father and I have seen our share of them ...but then this time it was his sister...so it would be different.

He patted her cheek and forehead and said, "Oh sissy...oh sissy...you've gone." I stroked her arm and felt tears welling up. It was difficult for me to see my father grieving for his only sister. He didn't cry but he kept saying,"Oh sissy...I tried to come quickly."

There was not going to be a funeral. She chose not to have one. Her sons said they had to fulfill her wishes. My father sat in the car outside the mortuary and said, "Now what? Shall we have lunch?"

I said, "Why don't we go to Elmer's Restaurant...since it was her favorite place to eat." 

His face brightened up, "It will be like a tribute to her memory."

We ate at Elmer's and he told his 'sissy' several times..."we are here for you."

After eating, we headed back up to Seattle. Seven hours of more talking, and phone calls to loved ones. As I drove, I listened to my father retelling the day's events over and over to each new person he spoke with. I could tell there was a certain healing going on with each new telling. There would come a time he would weary of having to relate the events; but for this time, he needed this therapy of sorts. I listened as he told me more stories. Eighteen hours after leaving my house, we pulled back into my driveway. 

"Are you alright dad?"

"Yes, thank you, I am fine."

There will be many more days for him to climb mountains, forge rivers and stomp through the jungles of Sabah. Today was the only day he could make the journey to say farewell to his sister. I am thankful I was a part of this journey.

Ghana- traffic

When Reflections did a blog update about driving it caused my mind to wander back to the topic of driving and traffic in Ghana. In Ghana, you weave in and out of traffic, from the left to the right side of the road. You squeeze in-between cars, trucks and vans, barely squishing through, all the while trying your best not to hit a pedestrian.

Lovely white lines adorn the tarred roads. They do look quite straight; however, there is little purpose for them being there. The lines indicate there should be two lanes; in actual fact, the two lanes span out into four lanes or more of jumbled cars. The amazing thing is each car makes it through with a minimal amount of accidents. Sometimes there are three lanes which transform into six lanes of traffic.

Here you see a picture of...no not a car park or parking lot....this picture is what used to be Tetteh Quarshie Round about. It has since been made into a lovely overpass. The traffic is not this bad anymore, however, coming out of East Legon, the lanes disappear and the amazing transformation into a blob of cars happens prior to straightening out.


When I first came to the Seattle area, I was warned of the 'traffic.' I kept wondering where this supposed traffic was. I left early in the morning, late in the afternoon and at other miscellanious times, but I never could find this traffic jam people talked about. It occured to me, everyone has their own version of what 'traffic' looks like. Seattle traffic compared to Ghana traffic was not traffic at all. It is, again, a matter of perspective.

It would be interesting to find out traffic/road stories from other parts of the world. What is their perspective?

Surviving 2008 Snow Storm in Seattle!!

Snow Storms, Shoveling and Snow Bears...

What a change from life in Africa...Snow storms swept across the Western United States leaving everyone housebound. We had to learn how to shovel snow. We also enjoyed learning how to make a snow man...well...let's just say it turned out to be a Snow Bear!

2008 is almost at an end. This year whipped by with a collage of activities. I want to say next year will be slower and there will be less things to do-- but then I say that every year-- in fact, someone pointed out to me I say that every month..."next month will not be as busy" and then next month comes along and it is equally, if not more, busy.

Well- a Happy New Year to One and All- hopefully in the new year I will be more consistent in updating this blog!