Seattle and re-entry

On the road again . . . Willie Nelson comes to mind, but without all his enthusiasm . . .  time's flying.  Our two weeks in the Oak Park area were a blur -- of much loved people, wonderful conversations, parties, coffees, dinners and get-togethers, a visit with Millie in Evansville, and the troubling awareness of not having time to hang out with everyone we wanted to see.

And the food!  The food cooked by excellent chef Ann (our host), and the potable and delicious tap water, special items cooked by friends, and turkey and dressing and pie, and the delightful assortment of vegetables!  Add to that the fullness of the grocery shelves and their delights:  real peanut butter!, bread, sauces and condiments, hot peppers (oh, how we missed the heat!), fresh milk, great coffee -- how very delightful and fattening to be back.

There's a paragraph at the end of this on re-adjustments, because many of you have asked.  But we're in Seattle now, and want to share a bit of it.   We attended the 26th Annual Great Figgy Pudding Street Corner Caroling Competition on Friday.  While not a religious procession (more of Peru's to come), it contains an element of devotion.  Anyone can organize a chorus, and they sing for a couple of hours in downtown Seattle and raise money for a senior's charity.  It's a big deal here, and fun.  

There was tap dancing by a cloggers group, who also sang.

Lots of people come -- they close off Pike Street.

This was the Seattle Labor Chorus - union folks.

These ladies were adorable, singing and dancing Andrews Sisters stuff. 

One of the Beaconettes, the great hair ladies. 

A marching band ended the singing competition and many followed the band to the final judging.  We didn't.

There they go, to the final judging.

Seattle has an annual event hosted by the Seattle Diabetes Foundation -- a fully-edible gingerbread/candy house competition and display.  No hint of irony there.  Disney's presence was heavy.

The Beast's castle.

Yep, Beauty and the Beast, Disney style.

Marshmallow and licorice sheep.

Alice in Wonderland theme.

An architectural firm did this one.  

Seattle has water access everywhere, and parks abound in the city.

Puget Sound from a park in the Ballard neighborhood.

The sound from Carkeek Park, a little north of the park to the left.   Doesn't feel like the city at all.

I went to one of many sets of locks in the area one morning.  This one had a fish ladder (Steelhead still climbing) and cool access to walk over the locks.

Big water + big machinery = very interesting stuff.

Hard to see, but they holiday-decorate their construction cranes in Seattle -- this one shows as a green line.

It's nice to be moderately functional again, with a new camera and binoculars.  This sunset appeared on our drive through Indiana and my new camera caught it.  

November sunset in central Indiana.

So, as to re-entry adjustments :

• The overwhelm of language has been interesting -- all the signs are readable, all the conversations eavesdroppable, all the music understandable, TV accessible and completely making sense, newspapers fully meaningful and relevant.  Everything's accessible -- sort of overwhelming to be in that sea of stimulus.  
• So many good options:  foods, people, books, avenues of pursuit, grocery shelves.  Pretty much related to the point above, in that it's all understandable, all accessible, all possible.  Takes a lot of thought to resist, to not be pulled in every direction.
• The need to decide and then plan the next steps -- it never ends.  We're here and have to keep going.  We're enjoying the respite, but are aware of the pull of the future.  It took forever and major work to line up the 6 airbnbs, four hotels, car rentals and transportation necessary to have us in the PNW for the three months we're here.  
• Obesity and its troubles.  Not a factor in Ecuador or Peru, and frankly it's nice not to have to think about the species' stupidity in that arena.  We're back to it.
• And contentment.  Not so apparent here in the states, as it is in Ecuador and Peru.  Lots of poverty there, lots of troubles, but a basic apparent contentment among the people, the kids.  Wish I felt it here more.
• Communications.  It's wonderful to have a cell again (let me know if you need my new number), and to be reachable anytime.  And it's a big responsibility and tiresome, too.  I'm sure you understand.  Internet is awesome here.  Love it.
• Full pockets.  Must carry a wallet again (south america was cash-based for us), and the phone. And keys. 
• The fullness of politics in this country - argh.  And we missed the worst of it.  This is also one of the delights, sort of understanding the process.
• This life of leisure is interesting.  Easy and natural in another country, but weird here.  I'm not used to not being engaged -- working, volunteering, being with the community, etc, has always been life in the US, and of late, packing and planning our exit.  It somehow doesn't feel right to be a tourist here.  I feel a little antsy about it; Steve's more okay.  We both miss the routine of a normal life, though.    
• And people.  We both realized how much we missed family and friends, and easy access, easy gatherings, easy conversations.
• Travels have complicated life, for sure.  And this sort of re-entry, this life is sweet, but incomplete.