Democratic Vistas

July 12, 2010 (evening)

Okay, here was the problem. My cousin Cindy, who lives near Allyn WA (population: not very many) had a dental appointment in Seattle in the morning. My cousin Vicki, who lives in Bremerton, had to work in the afternoon. Vicki had to be at work about 1 and ½ hour before Cindy got back from Seattle. I wanted to spend time with both of them. So, what to do?

Someone decided that I could spend the morning with Vicki, then Vicki could drop me off at the Boat House, a restaurant and bar in Allyn. Then Cindy could pick me up there.

Vicki and I had a leisurely morning at her house (talking about music, and kids, and work, and politics), then we went to a wetland preserve. After a short hike through the preserve, she dropped me off at the Boat House at 12:30. Cindy would be there about 2:00.

I had lunch, which took 45 minutes, then coffee while I answered a few emails on my iPhone, which took 30 minutes, then I read for about 30 minutes, then I toured the town, which took 17 minutes.

The town has a music shop with 7 guitars, two drum sets, and one saxophone. It might have had a few harmonicas and a kazoo. I just didn’t look that closely.

The town has a guy who carves bears with a chainsaw. So, I finally saw a bear on my trip.

The town has a souvenir shop with souvenirs (viz., stuff I don’t need or I can’t afford or both).

Then, I found a place to sit outside.

I watched the tide roll in.

I watched the one police officer in the one police car pull over a few dozen drivers for speeding through town and endangering a few fiddler crabs.

At 3:05, I decided to head for the bar. (Did I mention that the Boat House is a restaurant and bar?)

When I was working on my second beer, Cindy showed up. She was expecting Vicki to call when she dropped me off. Also, she thought I was going to spend the night at her house. She didn’t see my car, so she didn’t think I was there. Vicki was in a training session with her phone turned off. So, she didn’t get my text message: “Don’t leave me here.”

I am joking here. I didn’t have a bad time at all in Allyn. Eventually, we all made it together and had a great evening. I don’t get to see my west coast cousins often.

Cindy and Dick have a beautiful house on Puget Sound. On a clear day, you can see Mt. Rainier from their deck.

Cindy, Dick and I took a walk on the beach. By then, Vicki and Dick arrived. We talked on the deck, had a great dinner inside. This evening has been one of the highlights of the trip.

So, whose plan was this anyway? I don’t know. I probably had something to do with. All’s well that ends well. It has been a great day.

Vicki, George, Cindy