Seattle: Noticing Things

Art at the airport

            It’s the end of my first full day in Seattle and I’ve been thinking about what I’d like to share with you. One of my goals for this trip has been to simply be observant, I’m also planning on striking up as many conversations with Seattlites as possible and I started working toward that goal on the plane ride yesterday. I sat next to two wonderful women. One was reading a copy of Rediscovering Catholicism and we had a delightful conversation about what that meant to her in the context of her life and her family. The other woman is a long-time air particle chemist and we had a funny (and oftentimes horrifying) discussion of the many interesting and disgusting things that are floating around in the air we breath. It was a topic you just don’t imagine talking about when your seat is located about 2 feet from the airplane lavatory.
            One of the many perks of this trip is that I get to spend a lot of time with my sister. She and I are opposites on a lot of fronts, but there’s no one on earth like her and I cherish each and every moment I get to spend with her. She’s been living in Seattle for more than a decade and is a great illustration of what happens when you feel part of a community. She knows her neighbors. She frequents local businesses. She makes a point of being part of and supporting the neighborhood she lives in and it’s pretty beautiful. She and her friends take advantage of all the cultural and recreational things that Seattle has to offer.
            Despite our differences, my sister always warps me up in her arms and carries me away with her into her life. She introduces me to her friends, takes me to the places she loves and let’s me just be with her in her element. We sing, we cry, we laugh, we do crossword puzzles. It’s been one of the greatest pleasures of my life to be my sister’s friend as an adult. I’ve met a few of her friends already and they’re an interesting and lively bunch. Smart, savvy, passionate, sometimes irreverent and often hilarious. It’s not hard to see why she loves them.
            So, despite the gorgeous weather, the beauty of nature and the bustle of the big city, it turns out that the thing that has influenced my first few days in Seattle most is the time spent with my sister. Can’t wait to see what tomorrow will bring! 

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A little surprise in the broom closet