Road Trip?

This blog post is dedicated to my friend Allison, who says we should write our stories; and to my friend Christine in the Bronx who might have been more white-knuckled than I was this morning when I told her I was driving a dark two lane highway for a five hour round trip up US 101 to Port Townsend and back today. This story and all my blog posts are just for those who like to travel vicariously and share stories, like I do. It is also for my friends who live in very different spaces, than we Pacific Northwester's do. Those who cause me to remember that not everyone has a vision of one-hundred foot Douglas Fir trees, moss, mountains, icy rivers and the cold, gray amazing Puget Sound. 

Yeah, I am a good driver, an experienced driver. In the Northwest winter I head out to work in the dark and head home in the dark. Okay, let me be honest. I am an experienced I-5 South commuter. I have my heated car seat and my cup holder for my fresh brewed morning Starbucks coffee and maybe an afternoon school made Chai or green tea. My car practically goes on auto-pilot to and from school for my thirty-five minute commute. That is except for those times in the rain when I am virtually wiped out by the backsplash of speeding semi-truck trailers. 

I was ready to head to a nine a.m. family appointment in Port Townsend. My vision still was of the heated car seat, National Public Radio, and that cup of coffee. It wasn't of driving though. Why bother, my husband, the master of Washington's back roads and timber roads would do the dark part. Sigh, the moments when dreams become reality. He woke up with the general malaise.....no road trip for him today. Okay, I said I can do it. No problem.

Off I went at 6:10 a.m. Pretty dark once I hit the 101 exchange toward Shelton, but no worries with the four lanes. My focus at that point were the speed zones. We all know the State Patrol cadets are there training, ready and willing to pull us over and give us special citations for the holidays. 

Then the real trip began, down to the narrow two lane highway now. I passed Potlatch State Park and could barely see the sign. I was gripping the wheel tighter.....trying to do some yoga breathing. Ten miles pass. It's just me alone in the Olympic National Park, in the pitch dark. No, Steve Inskeep (NPR announcer), it doesn't help me when you say sunrise is not until 7:56 a.m. Maybe I should just go back home? No, keep going. It is eerie when the Puget Sound gleams brighter than the forest shrouded highway. Just keep your eye on the white line on the edge of the road Sue, you know the drill. Yes, my early bird students will tell you I frequently have a dialogue with myself as I organize myself for the school day. They worry, since I am their Psychology teacher. I reassure them that it is still in the realm of normal behavior, and they should not worry until I begin answering back as another person. Maybe I am getting close to that now.......

Five miles later and it is really dark. Now I really have a word with myself, Sue, you do have bright lights! I might not have ever used those in this three year old car. Phew! Big sigh of blessed relief. I can now see every twist and turn in the road, even when the faded white line seems to disappear at times. 

By 7:30 I am "home free", I can see as I cruise along Discovery Bay making my way to a family home. Our meeting is worthwhile, and the excitement about life and the celebration of Christmas is palpable. 

Satisfied and refreshed, the lingering taste of coffee and chocolate croissant on my lips, I am ready to enjoy my drive home in the light! Ipod set to Christmas Carols, celebrating the miracle of daylight, I enjoy my drive home and turn it into a tourist adventure to share with you.

I know that food should be involved for a good tourist day, so I stop a mile from my home at the local wood fire pizzeria and enjoy a slice of the vegan special of the day, and I blog to share a Washington winter experience with you. I am glad I spent this day having a driving adventure. So much better than the shopping mall! I actually love blustery days! 

Merry Christmas.

December 21, 2014 Happy Holidays,

My holiday cards are always late:) I am going to use the cyber world to share my annual news with those of you who are interested in an Ardington update. Thanks to Facebook I enjoy regular connections with many of you throughout the year. That means a lot to me. My inbox messages and friendships are a real treasure. You are my friend, so you probably know my cards are late and I am not a phone user, though I do have an aging smart phone that I turn on once a week at the most. I connect everyday with many on Facebook or at my Gmail. Some of you are my beloved “snail mail friends” and I will be late with my greetings, but am happy to be in touch at least once a year. So God bless you my friend – whether we meet by the US Postal service, Facebook at Sue Brady Ardington, suebradyardington@gmail.com, or perhaps through my travel blog at http://sueshares.blogspot.com. Maybe even Instagram because Mary and my students are always pressing me in a new technology direction.

 

Many of you know that I had an amazing summer traveling with Mary. First we took students to China with the EF Company. We had a wonderful group, and became a travel family for sure. Tomorrow we are going to have a breakfast reunion at Berryfield’s in Centralia to share some post-travel thoughts related to China. We were in Hong Kong during the early days of the protest against the mainland “crack down” on political rights in Hong Kong. Now we understand this issue better, and we appreciate the fact that we experienced part of this history first hand. 

 

When we returned from China, we had a fun Brady family 4th of July at my mom’s retirement community. We all bring big appetites for the barbecued ribs and potato salad and had fun playing Bocce Ball and dancing to Dixieland Jazz. We all met about a week later at Cannon Beach which has become an annual tradition. It’s fun and there is plenty of space for everyone to come and go as they please. Our big event is the hot dog roast and S'Mores on the beach. Really good times, three generations and new friends together.

 

Then Mary and I took off again for my epic return to England. I taught there in the mid-80’s and had never had the opportunity to return. Mary and I had a wonderful time and Mary made new friendships and I felt really blessed to be renewing friendships. We were treated royally by these friends; lunches, dinners, picnics, road trips, Palace visits, the London Eye, War Horse. We lived well. I returned home the weekend before school started. It was a wonderful time, and a summer to remember with my daughter.

 

Hmmmm. Mary brought home a souvenir, a British man from the North Yorkshire Moors. This is a sign of the times. They met briefly when we stayed at a hotel in the North Yorkshire Moors, became Facebook friends, Facetime friends, and then Kyle arrived on our door step and they made their way sight-seeing through the Pacific Northwest. He returned to England and then three weeks later was back and is staying until mid-January. He is resourceful, he found an internship with the State of Washington Aquatics division and is doing a lot of unpaid work for them and enjoying it. Kyle has a college degree in Political Science and History. I’m roping into a one day teaching assignment for my class, England in the middle ages. In the spring he hopes to join the Royal Navy to train as an officer. He’s a nice guy. We like him.

 

Mary has been substitute teaching and learns a lot in that process. She has also been applying to graduate schools, so hopefully in the next three months something just right comes along in London or in Boston so she can be off pursuing that opportunity. 

 

Mike and his faithful pal Dooley, our golden retriever are still working in the field rain, sun, sleet and snow doing timber cruising and wildlife biology work. Mike’s had a year of grief…..traveling to and from Wisconsin as both of his parents departed. He's making good progress though, playing his guitar, connecting with his friends. 

 

I’ve had a busy school year. I think I am working as much as I did in my 20’s, maybe more. The only difference is that I don’t quite have the energy I did then. Fortunately, at home everyone is satisfied if I put a hot meal on the table. After that I can call it a day. Mary and Kyle have been making some meals too, their specialties are Spaghetti Bolognese and Bangers and Mash (yes, sausage and mashed potatoes). 

 

Yoga and walking, and hopefully jogging again soon are my past-times, and I am looking forward to some time to read fiction during this break. Being lazy about my Christmas cards this year is going to make that possible. 

 

Thanks for being in my life. You are a blessing. Keep in touch in what ever way works best for you.

 

Love, Sue

Once..........August 21

A great way to sum up the wonderful summer opportunities Mary and I have had together, in reunion with friends and making new ones, and with friends here encouraging and supporting us in our life journey. We have been blessed and we are grateful. Yes, we like Wagamama. Mary has eaten at this chain three times, and for me two nights in a row. Delicious and affordable too.

Platform 9 3/4 - a childhood dream come true! The quest for Harry Potter, August 21.