Travel day: Portland to Seattle. Mowg arranged to borrow Lilith’s car and drive Yvette to the airport and then me to the train station. We arrived around 10:30 am for a noon departure. The time wouldn’t have been a problem if the train station hadn’t been so cold. It was built on the model of the Grand Central train station in Manhattan: high ceilings, absolutely gorgeous and without heat. There was a small food stand where I got a sandwich and a Hersey’s Milk Chocolate Bar with whole almonds. I also found out that it was a little warmer around where the stand than in the main section of the station.
I had bought coach seats for a whopping $31.50, with my senior discount. That price included a baggage check. Since I had ordered late in the day, my car was the furthest down the track. The first car I passed was an engine. That led me to think we were going in that direction. I noticed all the seats were facing with their backs to that engine. Hmm! I don’t do well riding backward. I thought, one good thing about being so far away from the engine if there is a crash, I should be okay. Wouldn’t you know it, there was an engine at the other end too, and my car was right behind it. I would be on the first car out.
The seats were tawdry: old, worn-out leather. I wondered what business class must look like. The seats were comfortable except that the car was cold. My feet were freezing. I finally emptied my briefcase and put my feet in it. That helped a little.
I walked down to the dining car to get some movement in. I walked through the business class. The seats were the same, just fewer of them in the car, making the aisle somewhat wider—big whoop.
The Seattle train station is a fantastic as the Portland. They must all have been built at the same time. In baggage claim, I nailed some young woman to ask how I ordered a Lyft. Mowg had made sure my account was set up with my current credit card, but I forgot to ask him how to order it. She was a newlywed traveling with her husband on their honeymoon. How great is that? Starting a new life together. Ah, I remember it well.
I didn’t see the Lyft driver at first. Poor guy, he was a badly overweight fellow with back problems sitting in his car for 18 hours a day. Yikes! I suggested some exercises he could do while he drove to help his back. The trip to Karin and David’s house was easy.
They have an additional 500 sq. building on their property, which they use as an air Bnb and visiting relatives. In Hawaii, it would be called an ohana. Karin had sent me the combination for the lock. I was able to let myself in. It is elegant. A lot better than my Howard Johnson room.
I saw Karin’s car parked in the driveway. I texted her but didn’t call because I knew that Sam, their six-month-old son, was sick. If she was able to sleep for a few minutes, great. I hadn’t brought my suitcase to the room because it involved in getting it over some steps. Too much for me. I texted Karin to get it when she had a chance. Then there was a knock at my door, and there was David, who had come home and figured out who that suitcase belonged to and brought it down to me.
I went into the main house. We had takeout Thai food. That was delicious. The baby is incredible. He is a doll even when he is sick. At his worst, he never slips into bad baby mode.
Nonetheless, Karin and David were stressed listening to their son, making distressed noises they were not used to. They did a great job working together to solve childcare problems: who would take which shift during the night and how they were going to provide childcare for him the next day, given that they had to go to work. They were both so deliciously tender with this baby. He is the best. I would love to hold him. I am afraid to. I hope I don’t catch this cold. I don’t want to spread it up and down the west coast.
After dinner, I retired to my separate quarters, unpacked, watched some TV, and went to bed.
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Musings;
A conversation I had with God after watching a scene on TV in which adult males were bullying some people:
Betty: God, why did you design us this way?
God: I designed you for survival for a set of circumstances which no longer exist. . . . . Ever heard of the law of unintended consequences?
And then I sent messengers down to earth to try to teach you guys how to deal with your impulses in a world you were not designed for. Do you listen? Not so much. I try, but that’s what free will is about. Sorry, it’s up to you guys if you’re going to make a mess of the world you are living in. I can’t stop you.
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