Seattle

Relaxing after a bike ride along Alki Beach

Fremont Troll

Tea at the Panama Hotel

One of the great things about living in the Seattle area is access to mountains for snow sports, the ocean or sound for water sports and the city for cultural events and great food!  This week we have snow-shoed on Mount Rainier, bicycled along Alki Beach, visited a troll under a bridge and hunted for salmon swimming upstream (without success, I might add). One rainy (it is Seattle, after all) afternoon, we enjoyed tea at the Panama Hotel in the International District. This hotel is where Japanese Americans stored their memories when evacuated to internment camps during WWII and became special to me after reading Jamie Ford's first novel, "Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet".

Banchong at Seattle Fashion Week

More fun than I ever imagined was my visit to the first night of Seattle Fashion Week at the invitation of Banchong, Alga’s wife. For one evening I was Banchong’s new “writer” learning the insider’s view of the world of fashion. I spoke with models, designers and producers and watched each contribute their part to a fabulous show. I learned the technique for walking a runway, the fact that at least some of the models eat whatever they want, and the amazing amount of family involvement and support provided. In the midst of it all was Banchong, networking, trading business cards, hugging necks, and totally melding with this fascinating world. Despite my, um, “silver” hair and Wal-Mart clothes, I was welcomed, if only as a curiosity, to this foreign world and I loved it!

Snow shoeing on Mt. Rainier

Without a doubt, the best part of my visit to Seattle, as for my visit with Ken’s family, has been the chance to reconnect with my sister and her amazing family. Judy and Al live in the Admiral District of West Seattle, a quaint and comfortable neighborhood of 1930s-era cottages interspersed with condominiums and a variety of shops. The neighborhood is full of personality, each home unique and reflective of its owner’s taste in landscaping and ability to afford remodeling. The garden level condo where Judy and Al live is across the street from the public library and an upscale market, and is just up the hill from Alki Beach, a perfect place for jogging and bike riding. The picturesque and not-so-cheap homes on the rim of their neighborhood gaze across Puget Sound’s Elliott Bay at the Seattle skyline. Not too shabby!

Statue of Liberty on Alki Beach

Interesting tidbit: Alki Beach is where the first European settlers of the Seattle area landed in 1851. They were befriended by the tribe of Chief Seattle and named the area “New York-Alki” which means “New York by and by” in the hopes that the area would someday grow to the size and importance of New York City. However, after one uncomfortable winter, most of the settlers moved across Elliott Bay to the more protected shores of the current downtown area of Seattle. The end result: Alki Beach has a miniature Statue of Liberty to celebrate that history.

Judy and Al have not yet retired, though Judy will be eligible within a few years having worked as a magistrate clerk for the federal government for many years. Several months ago Al’s father, Lloyd, moved in with them and this has become Al’s full time job. Over the past 10 or so years, Lloyd’s mind has succumbed to the ravages of Alzheimer’s disease, so he really needs 24-7 care. It’s a challenging and not very rewarding job that Al performs with gentle tenderness and obvious compassion. Al’s efforts along with Judy’s loving support allow Lloyd to be surrounded by family even though he probably doesn’t know it, and the multi-generational experience is heartwarming, if not always fun.

The view from Alga and Banchong's apartment

Enviably, Judy and Al live within 15 minutes of each of their children and their families. Alga and Banchong have an apartment in the more upscale Capital Hill District of downtown Seattle, which suits their young professional lives. Between travels to various international destinations (most recently Brazil), Alga is an engineering consultant who works from home and Banchong is developing her brand as a clothing designer. Alga talks about wanting a “real job” with a more consistent paycheck - even though the pay and time off may be less. His specialized knowledge makes him a much sought after consultant, which, combined with his honesty and hard work ethic, have convinced his family that he won’t have much trouble doing just about anything that pleases him!

Alga and Banchong

When not doing interviews about her designs or attending fashion events, Banchong spends much of her time helping her family take care of her 21 year old brother with cerebral palsy. She also enjoys exploring the local culture, participating in activities such as harvesting honey and digging for geoduck clams, which are abundant in Puget Sound and, shall we say, unusual?

Geoduck clams

Interesting tidbit #2: Geoduck (pronounced “gooey-duck”) clams are the world’s largest burrowing clams. They average about 2 pounds, but can be much larger, and can live as long as 168 years. The siphon and mantle of these clams are too large to be withdrawn into the shell, which gives the clams their unusual and somewhat shocking appearance: they look like a well endowed male’s genitalia has been removed and snapped into a clam shell. Believe me, I saw them for myself at the Uwajimaya Asian Market. 

Lloyd, Matt and Elyssa

Elyssa and Matt's new home

Elyssa and Matt have recently purchased their first home in a more family-friendly – and affordable – neighborhood in West Seattle. In addition to being a father, Matt is a web designer who works with big names like Nintendo and Elyssa sinks her talents into managing the family and the home. They have two children and one on the way, so theirs is truly a three-ring circus (four, if you count the demands of home-ownership).  It is sometimes fun and sometimes wild, but is always interesting and full of hugs and kisses. Their oldest son, Elijah, developed an intractable and devastating seizure disorder when he was about a year old. They battled multiple daily seizures until, finally, enough of his brain was removed to keep him seizure free for over a year now. The seizures, brain surgeries and myriad of medications have left him (and them) with a lifetime of challenges, but it is so wonderful to see him learning and, for the most part, happy!

Liam

Elijah

On the other side of the spectrum, Elyssa and Matt have recently learned that Liam, their almost 5 year old son, is exceptionally bright and has been accepted to The Evergreen School, which was established in 1963 to “provide a nurturing environment for children with extraordinary minds.” Wonderful as this is, it means another stick with a plate on top for them to keep spinning. Elyssa says they’re hoping their next child is “just average!”

Judy’s family, in particular Al, Alga and Banchong, celebrate food regularly with wonderfully prepared meals. Seattle is similar to San Francisco in the quality and variety of foods that are within easy reach. Combine that with a love of cooking and you end up with crepes and eggs Benedict for breakfast and dinner meals of crab soufflé, cheese pouf’s, tahini chicken and other gourmet palate pleasers. This homemade food tour has been ever so much better than the food in San Francisco.

Though I hate to say good-bye, tomorrow I leave my west coast family behind and join my friend Beth for the train trip back to North Carolina. Hard to believe that 4 of my 5 weeks have almost passed!