Over the Northern Cascades, Canada, Kids and Plans

posted by Patty James @ 8:18pm, Monday 12 July 2010.

I have had a lot on my mind lately (oh, for the last 3 years or so) and as I wander closer to home, I am thinking about how my life and my loved ones lives will happen/are happening and coming together. This might one of those stream of consciousness posts....

Before I begin, I want to say that I speak with the women in my life a lot about what I write, although generally after I write it. If they think it's too much I delete it. Lately I chat with my daughters more than anyone. (Speaking of kids, I sure wish my son would call soon. It's been almost a month since he's been away from base.) Kathryn and Olivia tell me to get everything out of my head and onto paper or web site. They say I'm crazy, 'but in a good way.' I seem to need to speak to the universe. I'm wondering if everyone else does this too, just privately. When this journey is over and the road trip is a memory, I will have to start writing in a journal.

So my Mom has a stroke while I'm at Rita's-a more serious stroke with lingering effects this time. She should no longer live by herself and my sisters and I found a really nice assisted living place close to my sister Margarets. My Mom is very social and they do a lot there. There is also a hairdresser, manicures and pedicures, her own apartment, etc. As none of us have big houses or frankly the mental and physical energy to be caretakers, we think this is best. My sisters and I have taken care of my Mom for many, many years and she has been well provided for. Well, without all the upsetting details, she thinks she can still live alone, but she can not. It's not been fun. All this really threw me over the edge last week and I actually ended up sick, which I haven't been for years. This whole aging parent process is tough and has quite literally wiped me out. My sister Joanne is there in Oregon right now and will stay until I get there next Thursday. I'll stay for 2 weeks, then another sister will help and so on. We do our best.

When I pulled out of Rita's house I was about 10 miles down the road and the tears started to flow, uninvited. I just said goodbye to yet another person. Hello, let's get to be good friends, now goodbye. I realize this just isn't my nature. I'm not a good good bye, C'est le vie person. Rita was a breath of fresh air because she says hello and good bye easily. It's been fun, but it's over or see you next time. I wish I could be like that, but I am simply not. She says it's because of the Cancer that's a big part of my horoscope. I guess Cancer's are sensitive. So, my first lesson is to accept this part of myself as Rita accepts herself. Hello, you're a part of my life, no good byes allowed- (and not to be cruel but there is one big exception to this rule.) I'll come with a warning from now on and everyone will be happy!

So I'm climbing up the northern Cascades planning to stay somewhere in the mountains, but decide to move on and keep driving.





The highest elevation of this whole trip has been in the Cascades-almost 9,000'. So stunningly beautiful. I will be back someday. Here and Maine, for sure.


My Uncle Dan and Joyce live in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada and I decided I'd get as close to the border as I can so they don't have to drive so far. I called them when I arrived Saturday night and we planned to meet on Monday. Meanwhile, I found Birch Bay State Park, close to Blaine, and the doggies and I got the last space available. I wrote, we hiked and tried to get my bearings a bit.

Sunday was the solar eclipse and although you couldn't see that, we saw an incredible sunset. I didn't have my camera with me darn it, but here are some other photos of the park and beach. Look what I found ...as usual lately without looking. Perfect. This must mean something.


Pink roses with (another shade of pale) blue sky and blue Puget Sound water.



Blaine, Washington





I watched the train come from Canada and watched the US Border Patrol watch the train the whole time it went by. Remind me to never jump this train.


Blaine



Great, isn't it?


My Uncle Dan and me



So after my Uncle and Joyce and I had lunch (he bought 4 books from me-so sweet!) I headed south and am now in a horrible concrete RV park next to I-90 in Bellevue, Washington where my cousin Margaret and her husband now live. They live on a hillside, so it doesn't work to park at their home. I will meet with Margaret tomorrow and hopefully she has kid's interviews set up. It will be nice to see her again; it's been 2 years since we had my Mom's side of the family reunion.

Speaking of Canada..my Mom and all that side of my family is from Canada. My friend Gary, who I met on this trip is from Ontario, Karen and Marco who I have known for years and I saw when in Boston, are from Ottowa, Madeleine is from Ontario, and CJ whose house I stayed in in Montana is from Toronto. I Have been asked to work on something with a woman from Toronto as well. My friend Amy offered me her house in Nova Scotia to write my next book. It's interesting all of my friends from Canada. Let's just throw open the borders and have some fun, shall we?

On Wednesday I am teaching a cooking class at Hazel Dircksen's house. Hazel and her company Socialbees, manages 2 of my Facebook pages. She has quite a large class/book signing set up. I'm looking forward to it. I'm afraid I'm turning into a bit of a recluse-not really natural for me. I like living in the country and having privacy, but I love having people over and throwing parties!

On Thursday I was going to be at the Farmer's Market in Seattle, but she told me today I had to pay and bring my own table, so that won't work.

It's only 8:15, but my mind is tired from all the thinking about lots of things these past few days. I'll share 'Plans' in the morning....