Thursday, March 11, 2004
A BIRTHDAY TRIP TO SEATTLE
The next time I saw my brother was in October 1974. Dad and Louis had birthdays just nine days apart in that month. Mom had been experiencing some small glitches in her head and having gone to a doctor it was diagnosed as an aneurysm at the back of her neck. She was also having mini-strokes which we didn’t know at the time.
Dad was quite worried about her and while they were in Blair visiting, aunt Mary decided she wanted to go to Seattle to see Louis. It was arranged that mom and dad would drive to Blair, pick her up and they would leave from there. In the meantime, they asked aunt Beulah if she would like to go and she accepted the invitation.
After mom had more spells with her head, dad was afraid she would need help getting around and especially if she had a bad stroke on the way or coming home. That was when he approached me about going. I really didn’t want to and tried to beg off but dad persisted and said if I’d go he would pay all my expenses. I finally relented and said I’d go. So the last part of October in that year, aunt Beulah, mom, dad and I left for our first leg of the trip, which was Blair.
We stopped along the way to view Historical Markers and beautiful scenery. Aunt Mary had been West before and aunt Beulah had been somewhat but neither had ever been to Seattle. With five of us riding in the same vehicle it got pretty tiresome at times as we were riding in a car instead of a van. Aunt Mary wanted to take her car so it was agreed that she would furnish the transportation and the rest of us would make up a gas kitty. She had a late model Chevrolet which was roomy enough but after a lot of miles we were anxious to get out and stretch.
Finally we made it to Seattle and the fun began. Louis had an RV parked in the yard for the extras to sleep in and it held our luggage as well so everyone had lots of room. Aunt Beulah, aunt Mary and I slept there. Louis had borrowed the RV from a friend of his for the time we would be there.
We saw all the sights again that we were familiar with and then some that we hadn’t. It was fun to watch our two aunts enjoy all of it. They took pictures and soaked up everything they could see and hear….they were very good travelers. Louis and Gail had the whole trip organized and the main event was to celebrate their two birthdays together, however, both dates were past. It had been years since they had been able to do that and it was real important to dad who usually didn’t make a fuss over special events.
While we were there someone read in the paper that a ferry boat, the Princess Margarita, was leaving port at Seattle for the last time. It was going to Vancouver and would return the same day. The ferry was being replaced with a new one. It spiked our interest so all of the gals decided they wanted to make the last trip with her. Dad got us down to the pier and we boarded. All the way north we watched fantastic scenery pass along the railing, but we were not prepared for the entrance into Vancouver. The harbor was gorgeous with flowers cascading everywhere. One of the main sights as you come into port was the large castle-like hotel that was named after English Royalty. I’ve forgotten the name…..
As we left the ferry we had just a short time to look around before we would have to board for the return to Seattle. We took in the beautiful shops around the immediate area and enjoyed the Europe-like atmosphere of the city. It was a place I would love to return to someday. We were impressed with the beauty and quaintness of the city. We all bought a piece of pretty English china before returning to the Margarita for our return to Seattle.
We had a lot of fun going and coming and finally the day came to head for Nebraska and Missouri. I had a wonderful time but my thoughts were beginning to think of home. A few days after our trip dad had a massive heart attack and died instantly. The pictures I had hoped to have of his last birthday supper at our house ( before we started the Seattle trip) were lost. Someone stole the camera from our car along with the roll of film I had taken.
Louis and Gail flew back for the funeral and afterwards I noticed Louis had dad’s Masonic ring on. He told me he had switched rings on dad’s finger at the funeral home. Louis had a diamond ring and dad’s was a red stone. It was….for my brother…..a final gift to our dad………..
Until tomorrow,
Essentially Esther
Dad was quite worried about her and while they were in Blair visiting, aunt Mary decided she wanted to go to Seattle to see Louis. It was arranged that mom and dad would drive to Blair, pick her up and they would leave from there. In the meantime, they asked aunt Beulah if she would like to go and she accepted the invitation.
After mom had more spells with her head, dad was afraid she would need help getting around and especially if she had a bad stroke on the way or coming home. That was when he approached me about going. I really didn’t want to and tried to beg off but dad persisted and said if I’d go he would pay all my expenses. I finally relented and said I’d go. So the last part of October in that year, aunt Beulah, mom, dad and I left for our first leg of the trip, which was Blair.
We stopped along the way to view Historical Markers and beautiful scenery. Aunt Mary had been West before and aunt Beulah had been somewhat but neither had ever been to Seattle. With five of us riding in the same vehicle it got pretty tiresome at times as we were riding in a car instead of a van. Aunt Mary wanted to take her car so it was agreed that she would furnish the transportation and the rest of us would make up a gas kitty. She had a late model Chevrolet which was roomy enough but after a lot of miles we were anxious to get out and stretch.
Finally we made it to Seattle and the fun began. Louis had an RV parked in the yard for the extras to sleep in and it held our luggage as well so everyone had lots of room. Aunt Beulah, aunt Mary and I slept there. Louis had borrowed the RV from a friend of his for the time we would be there.
We saw all the sights again that we were familiar with and then some that we hadn’t. It was fun to watch our two aunts enjoy all of it. They took pictures and soaked up everything they could see and hear….they were very good travelers. Louis and Gail had the whole trip organized and the main event was to celebrate their two birthdays together, however, both dates were past. It had been years since they had been able to do that and it was real important to dad who usually didn’t make a fuss over special events.
While we were there someone read in the paper that a ferry boat, the Princess Margarita, was leaving port at Seattle for the last time. It was going to Vancouver and would return the same day. The ferry was being replaced with a new one. It spiked our interest so all of the gals decided they wanted to make the last trip with her. Dad got us down to the pier and we boarded. All the way north we watched fantastic scenery pass along the railing, but we were not prepared for the entrance into Vancouver. The harbor was gorgeous with flowers cascading everywhere. One of the main sights as you come into port was the large castle-like hotel that was named after English Royalty. I’ve forgotten the name…..
As we left the ferry we had just a short time to look around before we would have to board for the return to Seattle. We took in the beautiful shops around the immediate area and enjoyed the Europe-like atmosphere of the city. It was a place I would love to return to someday. We were impressed with the beauty and quaintness of the city. We all bought a piece of pretty English china before returning to the Margarita for our return to Seattle.
We had a lot of fun going and coming and finally the day came to head for Nebraska and Missouri. I had a wonderful time but my thoughts were beginning to think of home. A few days after our trip dad had a massive heart attack and died instantly. The pictures I had hoped to have of his last birthday supper at our house ( before we started the Seattle trip) were lost. Someone stole the camera from our car along with the roll of film I had taken.
Louis and Gail flew back for the funeral and afterwards I noticed Louis had dad’s Masonic ring on. He told me he had switched rings on dad’s finger at the funeral home. Louis had a diamond ring and dad’s was a red stone. It was….for my brother…..a final gift to our dad………..
Until tomorrow,
Essentially Esther
