The house Louis and Gail bought was as unique as their home in Milwaukee. They were both fond of the lake view so nothing else would do but to buy property on Lake Washington. The house had been built by the previous owner’s mother and dad. They worked in Seattle and when summer came they always headed for the lake area to cool and refresh from their hard work. Anita had inherited it from her folks and now lived next door.

The house was approached from a heavily traveled road above. There was a street to turn on, a railroad to cross, another turn and there was this pretty cottage with a white fence around the yard. It was manicured with a Japanese maple, a fig tree and several flowering bushes. Flowers are abundant due to the areas location and the Japanese current. Warm air flows up the northern coast and the winters are mild compared to the Midwest.

Once you reached the house it was quite private because the traffic noise and busy street were above the house and lake. It was like turning off the city and relaxing in the country. The dock in front of the house needed repair but for the rest of the property it was quite livable upon moving in.

Gail and her mother tackled the unpacking for days on end while Louis was getting comfortable with his new job. He liked the owner and already had a friend there who had previously lived in Milwaukee…... Don Lapaka who was responsible for getting Louis to come to Seattle.

In no time at all the house was livable and well organized. After Gail’s mother left for Milwaukee Gail began to feel a little out of pocket with no job. She had worked ever since high-school and didn’t have enough to fill her days. She applied for and received a position at Boeing which was the main employment provider of the area.

The neighbors, Bill and Anita were cordial and had good information of the area so Louis and Gail were a leg up on finding certain stores, doctor’s and the like. They hadn’t been there very long until Gail’s older brother, Doral, was diagnosed with cancer. It traveled fast and he died in a very short time back in Milwaukee. Two months later his wife, Leona, died of cancer as well. We were stunned to hear of their passing…..we enjoyed getting acquainted with them at the wedding. Sadly, they left two young girls and a younger boy.

Louis and Gail took the two girls, Diane and Julie and Gail’s younger brother, Gary took Tim. Gary was a coach at one of the high-schools so he thought he would fare better raising Tim. The kids hated to be separated but it was the best way that would work for everyone. When Louis and Gail returned to Seattle they took the girls and Tim went home with Gary. They all had a hard time adjusting to their parents dieing so suddenly and it was a huge undertaking for Louis and Gail who had no children of their own.

Time went by and the four of them had good days and bad as they tried to cope with the situation as it was. Mom and dad made several trips out to Seattle and would come home telling us how the house looked and about the lake and surrounding points of interest. It was so unlike anything we had in the Midwest that we were anxious to see it all in person.

Eventually we were able to go and the reports were right….the Northwest was unlike any thing we had ever seen. Our first trip out was in our passenger car and we took John with us. Becky and her best friend, Di Di, were flying out to join the family and see the sights…..

Tomorrow……our visit to Seattle….
Until then,

Essentially Esther