When we began planning our trip we were focused on things we’d like to see, places we’d like to go, and where we could find the coolest summer weather. We threw around ideas like Quebec, Mackinac Island, Banff. We enjoy State and National Parks, pleasant walks in downtown parks and along rivers, we like history and places that we’ve read about in books. We like going back to places where we’ve been - if the food is good, and the beds were comfortable.We knew we had about eight weeks to play with, probably being on the road for about four. It seemed like a reasonable plan.
Then, through a series of events around us we found ourselves with some new parameters: a funeral in May, a graduation in June and a conference in July. The “bad” thing was they were in Pennsylvania, Seattle and San Antonio. Our trip was doomed! Our plans were scotched! Our budget was blown! We’d be flying all over creation rather than having a lovely little vacation.
Or maybe....?
Joe began thinking of a way to do this, and before long we had a new plan. Plan B was “Do It All.” (Isn’t that always Plan B?) Leave Florida in late May and head up the east coast, turning left at Philadelphia and then driving to Seattle for the graduation. Then left again, down to San Francisco (how about an opera?) and over the Sierra Nevadas in to San Antonio July 1 ... and then home!
It began to seem doable and so we set off. One of the very nicest developments was the addition of family to our itinerary. We met up in Washington DC (Joe was in NYC and I took the Auto Train) and luckily my sister and her husband moved there recently. They joined us for an evening out in Cambridge, MD on the Chesapeake bay where we sampled Crab Cakes and cool breezes as the sun went down. We sat in large rockers, watching the sky turn pink and purple and the water darken. The gulls circled slowly in the sky and even though it wasn’t cold, we could have had a nice bonfire (especially after Laurie and I had seen the S’mores kits at the concierge desk). We exhibited great restraint and did NOT buy the kits to eat without fire.
From there we drove to Philadelphia where I got to visit some landmark historical sites and a good friend! We stayed near Logan Square and had some wonderful city walks as well as fabulous dinners. And then we headed west, across the Allegheny Mountains into Sharon, PA. Joe was born here many moons ago, as was his father before him. Joe’s dad, also named Joe, was a pilot in the Army during WWII and died in a crash in September 1944, just three months before his son was born. The funeral we would attend was that of his aunt, the oldest sibling of his dad.
We were welcomed with open arms by cousins, aunts, uncles, friends and other relatives. There were tables laden with food - most of it traditional Slovak dishes - and coolers of cold soda, pots of coffee and a large tent with tables and chairs on the grass. After a lovely Mass in honor of Aunt Aggie, we all went back to the house to reminisce, to tell stories, to listen, to laugh, to hug. There were some emotional encounters with family members. A chance to listen to the elders who were, back then, the youngers. We felt connected to the Wellers, Mihalcins, Zreliaks...and others.
From Sharon we drove to Columbus, OH. What a great college town. We met up with Joe’s cousin (on his mom’s side this time) for dinner at a neat little restaurant and had a chance to reminisce again, over a time not quite as long gone by... and to catch up with our families and children and pets and travels.
From Columbus it was on to Urbana, IL (another cousin on his mom’s side) and another wonderful dinner with grown kids, sad stories of loss and passionate discussions of earthquakes and oil spills. We had the pleasure of congratulating a couple of recent college grads (a BS and a PhD) and again the feeling of family and connection was both heartwarming and convivial.
Moving through the midwest we headed north toward Minneapolis and met up with Joe’s sister and her husband for a delightful pizza dinner. Even though it was the last week of school (she is a teacher) and she was feeling ill, Barbara and Alan were wonderful hosts and it was such a pleasure to have a simple dinner, catching up and laughing and enjoying each other’s company. Their daughter lives in California, and their son is in active duty with the US Navy in the Middle East. I was quite moved by the Active Duty star on her collar. He should be home August 15 - which just happens to be her daughter’s birthday. How cool is that?
We headed west then ... toward Seattle. Our middle daughter will graduate from college on June 13. What a blessing! What a day! But between Minneapolis and Seattle we have a lot to see, a lot to explore. Fargo, The Badlands, Helena, MT, Whitefish and Glacier, and then Idaho. Some repeats from our trip last year, some new spots which are now favorites!
Today we have stopped for a full day. No driving. We are in the Methow Valley, just east of the Cascades...in fact, we can see them from our balcony. The rugged, immense peaks covered in snow. Yet our little high-desert mountain is sunny, warm and breezy. Birds galore! I’ve seen a Varied Thrush, and a Purple Finch! Two new species for me. This particular mountain is criss-crossed with trails and we have taken numerous walks, amazed at the vistas. The air is dry, the landscapes are gorgeous. We are but 3 hours from Seattle.
Where we head tomorrow. Into the city. Graduation! Laundry! Celebration! Parking Hassles! Life in all its glory will present yet another face. And tomorrow we will have made quite a journey - from the Chesapeake Bay to Puget Sound. Much of it dotted with pearls of family connection, treasures for the memory. Nothing extraordinary, just blessedly, humanly ordinary.
And then another turn.
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