Category Archives: Family

Some Delights in Olympia

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On Sunday we arrived in Olympia after a 6 hour flight, 1 hour wait for a rental car, and 45 minute drive. While not exactly not delightful, also not at all dreadful. Everyone was kind, no one was nasty, even in the rental car line.

The first delight was when we arrived at our delightful Airbnb. The host left me a long note and two gift cards for local food vendors because, she said, she was happy we were returning and because the house next door is going through a remodel starting this week. Isn’t that delightfully thoughtful of her?

Our next delight was a 3-hour sailboat trip on the Schooner Pterodactyl that started at 4. Clare mentioned that she wanted to do it and we booked what turned out to be the last sail of the season. Clare invited three friends and we all brought goodies. It was beautiful, peaceful (except for when I was almost tossed overboard), and the food and conversation were delightful.

Yesterday we had a delightful walk through a mini rainforest a 4 minute drive from our Airbnb. This was my second or third time there and it was as lovely as I remembered. I brought Rupert and Chum along and near the end of the walk a little girl exclaimed in delight to her mother “Look, she has a bear!” Of course I stopped and introduced her to Rupert and Chum. The little girl said she had a friend in her mother’s backpack and begged her mother to get out the friend. It turned out to be a small Orca whale named (I think) Stash. Stash, Rupert and Chum chatted for a bit, posed for a group photo and then we all parted ways after assuring the little girl that we’d chat again next time we met up at the park.

I finally met Clare’s cat, Milk (or Ghost depending on the day). It was delightful to meet him but I am not sure he found me delightful. I scolded him for scratching on the sofa and must have hurt his feelings because he didn’t warm up to me while we were there visiting yesterday. I’m here for two weeks, so perhaps I can win him over.

Last night Dean grilled chicken, pork, eggplant, mushrooms and tofu for a delightful Labor Day feast for Clare, Pete and me.

Collage for my mom on her 38th birthday

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I was 17 and following my mom’s tradition of making birthday collages when I made this for my mom. I don’t remember making it, but I know I did make collages — Just like Mom did for me and other folks. It’s actually perfect, especially the “my problem is my mother” and Can’t we be friends? I don’t remember if she liked it. That she saved it doesn’t mean much since she saved everything.

Franzen Home Movie — circa 1944

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Somehow we obtained a video on a mini vhs tape of my mother-in-law’s family filmed sometime around 1944. I think Dean’s Uncle Ed sent it to us and we transferred it to the tape, but I cannot be certain.

Anyway, I finally got it on DVD and sent it to the family. I also added some music that might have been playing in the background of some of the shots. Today I uploaded it to Vimeo.

It’s over 12 minutes long, so I don’t expect people to watch it all, but it’s sort of sweet, I think.

http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=1653248&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1
Franzen Video Circa 1944 from Dona Patrick on Vimeo.