EST v PST Round - the last

SeaTac Airport 8:45PM local time.  Hanging in a small airport eatery the likes of which you can find in any standard run of the mill US airport.  Trying not to think about the calf muscle it seems I tore going up a two foot grassy incline yesterday, instead focusing on getting mildly foxed so that the flight home is a zzzzzzzfest.

Trying to find the sweet nostalgic spot that is the result of this time so far away from home.  It isn't hard really.  I haven't had the luxury of that much time away without constant money worries in years.  Away - yes, but constantly pinching every penny.  I am truly fortunate to have someone who loves me as well as Duz does and who thinks enough of me to invite me on these excursions.  Even when I blew up all over him on our last day.  It wasn't my best moment that's for sure.  One I am not proud of at all.

Everything for a reason though.  I got a chance to feel what it's like to have someone be very patient with me when I behave in such a less than stellar way.  It was like being immersed in the warmest bath to have someone respond to what I said (or whined) and to choose to put aside their own needs and do what I needed in that moment.  I hope I remember that when it is my turn to be the calm one.

I can't honestly say that anyone has ever done that for me.  Diffused the entire shit energy that I was stuck in by calmly giving me what I needed.  That was perhaps the best gift of the whole trip.

Before I get all maudlin here.....glass of wine #2 will do that.

Things I learned in the Pacific NW

- Bad things often lead to fortunate ones.  We bent Squishy's tail.  Hopelessly inoperational.  No GPS.  No letterboxing!  Got her an new one at Wallyworld.  Turns out that one doubles to download photos from my camera to my laptop.

- Very cool places are sometimes not the ones you expect.  My favorite for this trip are Tao of Tea recommended by a friend as a must do.  The other is Elandan Garden where I went for a Tupperware and discovered an artist who moved me to tears - really.  Glad no one is reading this, cuz I just admitted that bonsai made me cry.  

- Jump off stuff.  You might get hurt, but WTF!?!  You could just as easily blow out a knee climbing a tiny hill in a city park.  Be adventurous.  Write the big story.

- Play.  OMG!  PLAY!!!  If there were one thing I could convince the world to do, it would be play more.  Dare to look foolish.  Play the theremin as if you were conducting the philharmonic.  Do DDR with someone who will hand you your ass.  Play with the gadgets.  Try on the butterfly wings.

- Buy the fucking shoes!!!  Don't wait.  Complete happiness with every dancing step.  So after I get some power sleeps, I'm contacting the chuck artiste and ordering me a pair of hi tops!  I just need to decide what I want on them.

- Tea, even highly charged tea, calms me.  Ironic huh?  My suitcase is bulging with samples.  And I suspect that there will be many packages in the months to come.

- Help is there if you ask for it.  My healer friends took care of my hinky stomach and a bitchin' flu-y cold in no time.  Kept me mostly upright and movin.  When I couldn't decide which way to go, I asked for a sign.  In particular a bald eagle (that was my target animal for the trip).  I only saw 2 on the whole trip.  Each shortly after asking for help/sign.  Take that as you will.  But both times, I'm sure that they led me in the right direction.

- That family is strong.  That forgiveness is underrated.  Boo-yah!

Peace out.