Time grabs you by the wrist directs you where to go

[twilight33]

On New Year's Day 1998, I woke up early as usual and looked around a house full of passed out people in north Seattle. Some of you were there, some of you weren't, and I... needed to get moving to think for a while. I jumped in my rental car, went to fill up the gas tank, and began driving without a clear destination in mind.

I ended up in Ocean Shores, over 140 miles away, but only stayed there for a few minutes before driving back to Seattle.

Why so soon when I adore the ocean and it takes forever to be able to see it in Washington?

Because for the life of me, I could find neither my shoes nor socks in the sea of slumbering humanity so I took off without them.

I do not recommend driving hundreds of miles or walking on a blustery and rainy Washington beach barefoot in the dead of winter. Getting gas at the station wasn't so fun either.




What a difference a decade, family and some shoes make. That's my beloved holding Kieran's hand on the tree & me in the other two (yes we have matching jackets now). My great-great-great grandfather also stood somewhere on this shore in the 1860s, which was not known to me when I was there the first time but is not surprising considering my trend of ending up in obscure places where my ancestors were.

I was going to write some soliloquy about contrast, change & growth; but after much deep and profound brain things inside my head, I decided to scrap that. Have we not all ended up in physical, emotional and/or other types of places we didn't remotely see coming a decade ago?

The answer is yes for every single one of you I knew personally back then and still do now, so let me begin this year by saying thank you for all your support along my crazy path and I hope I've been able to be of some help on yours. Not that you yourself are crazy. Well, in order to be friends with me, maybe you have to be to a certain extent...

Bonne année 2008, mes amis.

Comments

[spaceling.livejournal.com]

Has it really been 10 years?

It's been an amazing ride, and a treasure to have you behind me. :)

[twilight33]

Yes. I can't recall any other 10 year period of my life flying by so fast!

Email me your new address for a card signed by Kieran? I'm not certain we can make your party, but I'm longing for a date at the Queen Mary sometime. My treat!

[spaceling.livejournal.com]

That sounds really lovely! Perhaps later in the month?

[deadrose.livejournal.com]

Much as I hate to be grateful to AK for anything, I'm awfully glad he caused us to meet. You've been a great friend for over a decade now, and we've had some amazing times.

[twilight33]

*grin* yeah, it doesn't settle well with me either to be thankful for a weasel but I've loved having you in my life!

[riofriotex.livejournal.com]

You might like this place: http://www.sandpiper-resort.com/. We stayed there a lot when Eric was little. If I remember correctly, you can't drive on the beach in front of the resort (at least much of the year) which makes it a great place to play - fly kites, build sandcastles, etc. And yes, we went there in December/January too, although I have to confess that's not my favorite time to go to the beach in WA!

[twilight33]

That does look like a cute place, thanks for the link and personal recommendation! Beaches here are still wrong to me though because I am used to the rugged Northern California coast = Pacific Ocean. I'm not sure I'll adapt but going there might help :)

[riofriotex.livejournal.com]

Beaches in WA were a major change for me, having spent the first 26 years of my life on Galveston, Corpus Christi, Padre Island and Mustang Island beaches! Even in summer, all I could do was wade ankle-deep in the water. BRR! Too cold - no way could I swim!

There are some more rugged beaches further north near Forks. We used to stay at the Forks Motel, and walk in (access was from trails, no roads) to nearby Second Beach and Third Beach.

[serenasheik.livejournal.com]

Those pictures are SO awesome and amazing!!!!! I love them :)

Girl we have been friends since December 1994, can you even believe it? Course we did not meet in person til 1996 i think? :) and then u moved away from SF soon thereafter durnit....course I went and stayed with u in Seattle which I loved :)

I love ya girl. We are all crazy........

[twilight33]

I'm pretty sure it was 96, when you hurt your leg back then too because you were on crutches. Stay healthy this year, love ya chica loca ;)