Restless in Seattle

The anticipation of seeing old friends propelled this short visit to Seattle, my home for 7 years. Actually my hiking/skiing accomplices John and Emiko threw in an extra bone, in the form of a permit to climb and ski Mt St Helen. An offer I couldn't refuse. I was feeling good about this impromptu NW detour on my way to Laura's cousin's wedding in Chicago.

My new electronic passport got its first stamp from Detroit US immigration. By the way, I'm really pissed at a French new law that took my old passport away from me as I renewed it before expiration, to conform to current US (post 9/11) regulations. Those stamps from over 15 countries where like a time log of fun journeys. Anyway, one cannot fight the administration, so the obvious result from this dumb rule is that many might "lose" their old passport, instead of turning them over for destruction.

The flight from Detroit to Seattle was spent talking to an interesting guy. Kenny, a history teacher from Rochester, who has an extensive, world-traveler background, was invited to a deaf poet slam. Although he didn't have this disability himself, he enjoyed the physical expression necessary to this art, and discovering that poetry subtleties could be conveyed in sign language blew me away. What an excellent mind opener!

My Seattle stay was filed with gatherings of friends, allowing me to see many people whom I have been missing, and to appreciate all the changes that 14 months can bring. Some lost a dear one; others have new kids or are pregnant. Some divorced, others got married or entered long-term relationships. Amazing! By comparison, a few new high-rise buildings in the city skyline were not a surprise to me.

And yes, the Mt St Helen outing happened, with much borrowed equipment (sweet splitboard, Dave!). As usual our skills were challenged by variable snow as we skied down the South slope of this erupted volcano. Though the weather didn't quite cooperate, and the day ended with the 3 of us soaked to our underwear by uninterrupted rain and snow, there were no regrets. A little wetness is not always foreign to fun times in the NW.

My overall feelings about Seattle are mixed, but really not that different from when I first left a little over a year ago. I--and Laura even more so--miss the reassuring routine we have established, our dynamic lifestyle that was based on a comfortable income, our good friends and the beautiful region we came to love. On the other hand I was ready for a change, and I needed to move closer to my family. Seattle is definitely a nostalgic time in my life. Even if we move back--quite a possibility in a few years--many things will be different, and that I must keep in mind.