Seattle Trip Day 1

* pictures to come soon.


What an intersting day. It is surreal to be sitting in my Grandma and Aunt's house, and my Aunt not be here... I thought I would be okay, since I have given myself the last few days to come to terms, but its still a struggle.

This morning our flight left Salt Lake at 9:45am, but since we needed to check in Roni's baby stuff we got there at like 7:30. We thought security would be a breeze, for me it was. However Margie had a different experience. She had a birthday on Monday, and it happened to be the same year her drivers licence expired. She had a temporary one she printed off online, but that and the factor of her wrist cast weighed in, it created an issue. I captured a picture of her getting the "royal treatment". She was a good sport, I have been there and done that before!

The flight was full, so I cuddled with my mom, and my uncles and aunt say behind us. Thankfully we got the front row, so there was an extra few feet of leg room! I gate being tall sometimes... Once we finally landed and got the luggage, we tried to find our rental car. That was yet another experience on our own. There where issues with shuttle, and my mom and I ended up waiting back while the others went to get the paperwork started. They crammed 10 of us into a van that say 7! The driver was a maniac, he ran lights, no seatbelt, texting and when he would stop it was in the middle of the intersection! I thought I was going to die!

After we got the rentals, we made our way to Gig Harbor. I lived there for 8 years, and that is one of two places I call home (the other of course Vancouver). Everything has expanded and it was strange to see some of it. You can tell that it is one of THE places to live now. We met my Grandma and our two aunts for lunch at my favorite place for lunch. We have been eating at Moctazumas since they first opened in the early 90's. The food was better than I remembered! It was a wonderful experience to just be with the family!

After lunch we kidnapped my Aunt Millie and drove through the town, and by our old house. It looked as cute as I remembered, and made me think of the awesome times we had! We also drove through downtown and the water front. I did see the coolest thing ever, inside the Key Bank, they had a Starbucks! On in Seattle...

We spent the majority of the day just with the family and remembering the good times we shard with Aunt Evy. Friends of Grandma's came and brought dinner over, and while John and Margie where checking into their hotel, Millie, Mom and I went for a walk to Safeway. It was glorious to be out in the fresh air, and smell nature! First thing Millie went to, was the Wine section. I forget how large of a selection they have up here in stores! We found some interesting names, and she decided on mini merlot bottles (mostly to hide it from her sisters! Easier than big bottles). We also found some nice veggie/fruit platters and some chocolate. What a great combination!

On the walk back, my Uncle John and Aunt Margie ended up picking us up. Another family friend came over and chatted while we ate dinner, and shared more memories. I know deep in my heart that Evy's passing was for the better and it was a good thing. She had lost her Husband to cancer 25 years prior, and when they declared what caused her death it was because her cancer came back. My aunt suffered a lot, including being in a wheelchair the majority of her life. She beat cancer once before, but this time it came back and when they finally found out, it spread to too many organs. She lived a full life, and I know she is happy again, so I should be too.

Tomorrow is the funeral, and possibly a surprise ferry ride to Seattle and back for no reason, other than I simply LOVE ferry rides!