Sleeping in Seattle

We arrived Monday morning at my Orff friend Laura’s house in the beautiful Queen Anne neighborhood. Met her neighbor, who happens to be the brother of the former cook at our school and the uncle to three students we taught. Took a walk around this most enticing area in Seattle, with such aesthetically-crafted houses and great restaurants, bakeries and coffee shops. There was light rain and our host was non-plussed, not even bothering to cover her head while this wimpy guy opened his umbrella. 

 

From there, into the car to go see the locks and the salmon ladder. Interesting, but not a salmon to be seen— it seems we came too late in the season. So opted to go to the Nordic Museum, but alas, it was closed on Mondays. Undaunted, we drove on to Pioneer Square and there we took Bill Speidel’s Underground Tour, a delightful, off-beat walk and talk through the colorful history of Seattle’s beginnings in the late 1880’s. Quite a story, involving a big fire, potholes in the street where people drowned, exploding toilets, raising the streets and sidewalks one whole floor higher (and us walking through what used to be street level), women who helped fund the enormous expense of building up the city through their work as “seamstresses” (can you guess why the quotes?). Back for a delicious home-cooked meal and a visit from Jackie, another Orff friend and ending with Jackie, Laura and Karen singing show-tunes with yours truly at the piano. A delightful day!

 

Today began with returning our rental car to the airport and a weird GPS snafu that had us circling blocks and taking backstreets to the airport. Then the light rail to downtown and meeting Laura at the library. An impressive architectural structure and me talking to the children’s librarian about carrying my Jazz, Joy & Justice book. Determined to figure out how to get all my books more present in libraries everywhere, while the institution still exists. I’m sure the Republican Fascists, knowing that knowledge is power and how dare it be for free!, would be delighted to shut them down.

 

No visit to Seattle would be complete without stopping by Pikes Market, so off we went for lunch, sitting by the water’s edge and happily so. Meant to see the wall filled with chewing gum but got distracted and missed it. Instead, we drove on to the Arboretum and took a walk in the crisp, overcast (but not raining!) day amidst the glorious reds and yellows of trees still dressed in full Fall regalia. I especially loved the display in the Japanese garden, especially the reflections in the pond.

 

Back at the house, I played some Bach Cello Suites in unison with Laura’s 13-year-old son Austin—me on piano, him on cello. He had improved quite a bit since I had heard him play back in San Francisco 4 years ago! I then sight-read a Brahms cello-piano duet without feeling too much undue shame at my inability to expertly sight-read my part. 

 

Finally had to stop playing to walk the four blocks to the Isarn Thai Soul Kitchen, a most lovely restaurant with most delicious food with the most delightful three sisters who Karen and I had both taught back at The San Francisco School. As expected, the conversation flowed like a burbling and bubbling river, the waters so cool and refreshing, winding in and out of the present and the past, with much joy and laughter. Now 53, 51 and 47 years old, Paprika, Ginger and Maya have done—and continue to do—such fine work, much of it in education, art and international relations. 

 

Thus continues my Odyssey enjoying the harvest of my life’s work and path and I can testify, it is endlessly nutritious and delicious. My cup runneth over. And now, off to sleep in Seattle.