Washington Visit Part 3: Quality Time with a Few Friends

KEEPING MY VISIT LOW KEY:
All states have basically opened up from the pandemic, but the world is still dealing with Covid-19 (and new variants). Most people are not wearing masks anymore whether vaccinated or not. I am not vaccinated due to personal concerns of immediate and long term effects, therefore, I need to be careful. I wear a mask when around others in public. I avoid crowded situations. Therefore, I didn’t want to have group get togethers at someone’s house, or at a restaurant or bar as we did two years ago. Time with my kids was a priority for me. As time permitted I got together with less than a handful of people who contacted me, and our locations and schedules worked out. These individual meet-ups were special because they allowed us to be truly present with each other. Our lives are so busy and filled with distractions that focused one-on-one time for intimate conversations with a friend or family member rarely happen.

Time with Elona
Elona and I really got to know each other the last few years adjacent classrooms. Since our homes were just a few blocks from each other, we also became walking buddies. I think being on the same team for the school district’s Walktober Challenge initiated our walking connection. We’ve really missed each other and our long talks and walks. I went to Elona’s on Thursday, July 15. We immediately starting catching up. We went for a neighborhood walk that took us to my old cul-de-sac. Unfortunately, there was no sign of anyone around.

We stayed up for hours talking and talking – imagine that. The next day we went to the mall. I wanted to find a replacement pair of sterling silver, ball stud earrings. That turned out to be much harder than I expected. It was a short visit, but so nice that it was just the two of us.

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LUNCH WITH KATHY LEMIEUX
On July 21, I was able to meet Kathy Lemieux for lunch in Edmonds at the Chanterelle restaurant. Kathy secured an outside table for us. Kathy and I both worked at Oak Harbor Middle School. She was always a sweetheart in the office area. I never saw her rattled for any reason. While working we never really had the opportunity to get to know each other beyond staff events. Kathy’s husband Jeff, was a math teacher at OHMS. We were always in opposite wings and rarely spoke. As Facebook friends Kathy and I bonded over common political and social views. She organized a get-together dinner for me in Oak Harbor when we came back two years ago.

I treasure the one-on-one time Kathy and I had today one-on-one. We got to know each other on a more intimate level as we shared personal things about our lives. Three hours flew by! Thank you, Kathy for reaching out to have lunch, and for paying for mine. Next time I buy! Unfortunately, we were so present with our conversation that I forgot to take a picture.

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DINNER with SCOTT PILON
Scott Pilon, a friend from my running and triathlon days with Experience Momentum Multi-Sport Team, reached out to Abby for us all to get together. We were able to meet for dinner at Panera Bread on Thursday, July 22 at the Alderwood Mall. We had a great outdoor table. Scott has been dealing with an unexpected change to his life over the recent months. Sharing with us seemed to be important for him to continue his processing and moving forward. Abby and I were present listening. We offered our best support, and affirmed staying positive while focusing on just him and Haley (his daughter). Once again, I neglected getting any photo of the three of us.
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RETREAT in ANACORTES
Barry and I were invited to spend the weekend – July 24 and 25 with our good friends, Renee and Tom, at their home in Anacortes. We stayed with them two years ago and had the most wonderful, yet relaxing time. We told them that that was probably what we all needed this time, too. So no agenda of things to do to keep busy. Instead we focused on catching up and truly enjoying one another’s company. Their house is truly a home. It feels great being there and enjoying the views from anywhere within the house or out on the deck. It was a very peaceful weekend that flew by.

Tom and Renee have a new puppy, Sparky. He is such a sweetie! We could easily have brought him home with us. 🙂

Chillin’ on the deck…With wine, crab cakes, fresh fruit and caprese on sour dough baguette slices. Boy, did we feel special!

View During our Neighborhood walk:

MORNING WALK:
After breakfast we thought we’d explore Guemes Island, but discovered we missed the last morning ferry, so we drove over to the Guemes Channel Trail. This is a fairly short, but very pleasant walk along the water. It is also one that was good for Sparky.

Yes, those are trees growing out of the schooner! Read 1966 in the picture above.

Tom said he has always wanted a Jeep, so we used our Jeep today to give him a little Jeep fix. Here’s Tom doing the up and over into the back seat when the top is off. I find it easier than flipping the passenger seat forward and getting in behind it. Obviously, if the top is not off, that is the only choice to get into the back seat. By the third time he was smooth and had it down like a pro. On to catching the 2 o’clock Guemes ferry.

To Guemes Island
As long as I lived in Oak Harbor, I never made it to Guemes Island off of Anacortes. The 5 of us took the ferry over on Sunday to have a bite to eat. I think Renee and I had the best option–the arugula salad. It was delicious, but Renee said it wasn’t nearly as big as it used to be. Since we needed to be back at Abby’s by 5, we didn’t have time now to explore the island.