Cruising Alaska

We did make it to Vancouver in time to board the Ryndam, ship of the Holland American Line. Cindy's plane landed in Vancouver just as we were passing the airport. How coincidental. We sailed from Vancouver to Juneau, then back to Skagway, Glacier Bay, Ketchikan and Vancouver.

As I mentioned previously, I spent a good deal of time in the spa. This was not a ship, it was a floating spa. I had 3 seaweed wraps and massages, a facial and had my hair done twice. Oh, it was wonderful. But that still left plenty of time for other cruise favorites. Like

Eating

This is our group at the special restaurant. We are Cindy, Eric, me, Ed, Marge, and Ed. The food wasn't always great, but the company was. You never knew who you would be dining with, but whoever you were with, the conversation was good.

We also saw some sights. As I said, I was in the spa a lot, so I didn't go on any excursions. But Alaska some how comes to you. My new friend, Ed, took some wonderful pictures. He became the official "Staff Photographer" for the Miller-Lundstrom-Norman group. Here are just a couple. I really couldn't pick among all the beautiful pictures he took. Some a quite breath-taking. It helped that the scenary was breath-taking. And a good camera. And a good eye. And was very persistent. Here are some of the pictures he took. Some day I'll put captions on these and put them in some order. But you must see how beautiful these pictures are.

Some of us got off the boat from time to time. Eric and I strolled around Juneau a little and did the same at Ketchikan. The Miller-Lundstroms also got off at Skagway and toured that town. It is really touristy and if you don't want to buy furs or jewelry, you are out of luck. Cindy went on a couple of excursions - a hike and kayaking. Ed and Marge went whale watching and viewed a glacier in Juneau.

One of the things that I liked best about the cruise was my state room. It was an inside cabin. Very quiet and peaceful. And it was a good size for one person. The guy who took care of the cabin, who I always called my house boy, but never to his face, was from Bali and the star of the staff night production of the Ramayana. They did it way past my bed time, so I didn't see him, but I'm sure he was great. They fold towels for you every night and leave them with chocolates on your bed. I sat with him on the next to the last night and watched him fold a bull dog. Cute. He folded an elephant for the final night. Cindy said she got the book on how to do these.

Something new to learn when I'm in Arlington!

Auntie Mo

Maureen is a world-champion hostess. We were not world-champion guests. Eric's wife, Cindy, was caught in a bind, trying to get out of Virginia with thunderstorms threatening. Would she make it to the Seattle airport in time? Should we camp out at the airport hotel? Should we stay at Maureen's? Eric was a bundle of worries. I don't respond well to worrying about things that you have no control over. And Maureen was in the middle of this storm.

I wasn't enjoying the angst, how could she? But she is a good friend and a world class hostess. She took us on a drive so we could see ALL of Seattle. It was fun and may have calmed a few nerves. We went to Pike's Market and saw the world's first Starbucks. We also had the world's worst salmon and fries. I still can't get that taste out of my mouth and it has been over a week. Everything world rated, but, as I said, our senses were on alert.

It all worked out - sort of. Cindy ended up flying to Vancouver, where the cruise started. Eric and I stayed at Maureen's so we could get an early start in the morning of the cruise launch. We both lost the price of the hotel by the airport. Cindy had to pay a kagillion dollars extra to switch flights. But that was nothing. Eric and I arrived at the airport just as Cindy's plane landed. We waited in a Walmart parking lot until she said she was ready to be picked up. Eric was so happy to see her. We got to the boat okay, but that is a different story, for a different state.

Next stop, Alaska.

Hippie Heaven

When you step into Eugene, Oregon, you step into another world. Not in a geographic or ecological sense, but in a Rocky Horror Picture Show sense. No transvestites, but please, “Let’s Do the Time Warp Again.” You are immediately back in the 60’s. As one who came of age in the late 60’s, this is great. It has a very laid-back look.

Eric and I spent 3 days in Eugene so we could see our niece, Julie, and her 3 men. As always, I got pictures of everyone but her husband, Adam. Believe me, he is a good-looking guy. I’m not sure how he is missed by the camera. We went to bookstores and the library, before having this lunch with Julie and Torin, her youngest. He is a high energy cutie. Eric was gob-smacked by him. That’s good because he has a bit too much energy for me, I need to observe him from afar. They played and Eric read books to him.

Palmer and I cooked breakfast one morning. Actually, Palmer cooked it. I just helped. He has a very precise and unique way of cooking. He explains every step and poses to make sure I get a good picture. I’ve never seen anyone crack an egg with a fork. That must be something learned in this house. He made his world renowned French Toast. It was very good. He puts cinnamon in it and usually adds vanilla, but there was none that day.

Later in the day, he and Julie worked an experiment. Julie’s patience is amazing. Wow. Wow. Wow. She was fantastic. Not just patient. She let Palmer do everything. The experiment was to purify old coffee to make clean water through evaporation and condensation. Palmer set everything up, Julie just helped when needed. She let him strike the match to light the little alcohol burner. He was no more successful at that than I would have been at his age if I had been allowed to light a match. But he did everything else, including lighting the burner. Bravo, Julie, I know he will appreciate this when he looks back on what helped him to become a great scientist.

All-in-all, we enjoyed our trip back to the future. The boys are happy, Julie is doing well at University of Oregon, and Adam works hard. As I love to say when chatting to my friends, LIG. Life is Good, especially in Oregon.

A Day of Pampering

Karen and Peter had treated me to a massage as my birthday present last August. It took me until June to finally get the massage. Karen joined me on the Wednesday before our departure. We had body scrubs, wraps, massages and facials. Not all of those, but we each had some. My masseuse must have hated me. She used her little medgley knuckles over every inch of my body. I hurt for days after.

Then we had lunch at the Claremont’s fancy restaurant. The room overlooks the San Francisco Bay. Here is Karen after her facial and wrap, being a little silly because I didn’t want to take a posed picture. The picture of the bay does not show the bay. I’m sure I’m not doing something right when taking these pictures because the view was stunning.

The reception for Eric’s first marriage was held in this hotel. Neither Eric nor Karen remembered that. You can imagine that neither, therefore, remembered where the wedding took place. Only one person probably remembers and it may be some time before I have an opportunity to ask her.

The next day, Eric and I drove north to Eugene to visit with our niece, Julie and her family. It’s a beautiful drive. We passed Mount Shasta. It looked so pretty for so long. Then when we got to the spot where you can take pictures, clouds decided to shroud the peak. Next stop, Oregon

I Live

I have certainly been in the land of limited Internet access. I am now on the Alaskan Cruise segment of my journey. I have internet access at $.40 / minute. And it is slow. Am I spoiled? Yep. So I will write about all the books I've read, people I've seen, and places I've been as soon as I can get a more reliable Internet connection.

But let me say this: The Holland American Cruise Line is very comfortable. Lots of places to sit and look out at the beautiful scenery. A fantastic library. Food is okay and plentiful. I have quibbles about some of it, but on the main, it is varied and interesting. The spa is fabulous. I was wrapped and warmed then massaged without the knuckles the woman used at the Clairmont in Berkeley (more later.) We will see Juneau later today.

Cindy's brother is taking fantastic pictures. I'll put them on my laptop and share those. Take care, my friends.

We're Traveling

Eric and I spent Monday through Wednesday in Pasadena. I had to pack all my clothes and a few sundries to take me through the next 8 weeks and 2 years of traveling and living. Adrian was moving things into the car and trying to adapt to future needs of other people's suitcases. Since this was pretty boring to Eric, I gave him one of my puzzles. Do I know my boy? Adrian slept at his friend's house; bless him for adjusting his life totally for the needs of my life at the moment. It's only been a few days, but I miss his sweet self, even though I am having a wonderful time.

We drove north on Thursday to spend a week at Karen and Peter's house at Albany by San Francisco. We listened to a mystery, still not finished. Eric is very clever, he read a book while I listened to the tape. That man has total concentration. It was a nice drive. If any of you ever want to drive north on I-5, please do that on Monday through Thursday.

Karen and I decided to get a massage at the Claremont Hotel and Spa next Wednesday. Karen was supposed to make reservations, but decided it was easier to go there. So we spent a lovely afternoon there having lunch and making reservations. The Claremont is at the top of a hill overlooking Berkeley and San Francisco Bay. It was a lot of fun. I really enjoy my family. It will be a lot of fun when Adrian and I finally move to Albany.

Eric went to a baseball game with his son, Mark, that night. Those Giants. They walked in the winning run and then the Padres scored 3 more runs on ridiculous plays. I'm sure Mark was devastated, but they had fabulous seats at that stadium so I think the joy was in the trip, not the results.

We had brunch with Kevin and Natalie and then watched Maggie's dance recital. OMG, can that child be cuter? She danced to the Chipmunks singing the Witch Doctor song. Perfect at home and unsure of herself in front of her adoring fans. It's all good. Fremont has an interesting dance program for all ages. We had seniors tap dancing, young adults doing Bollywood and belly dances, pre-teens with their hip-hop and kidlets tapping their hearts out. And it was short. Could anything be better? Bless the Fremont Parks and Recreation department. It was a perfect day.