Impending Travel

The end of summer is a good time to get a change of scenery as the beginning of the new school year always makes me want to buy a new outfit and get into a classroom. However I do like to spend an occasional September 13th with my cousin so it is fitting today that I’m anxious about getting all my travel items into a tiny carry-on bag.

Summer has been great with a few little boys in the pool almost every day. My most exciting summer activity was tubing behind Charlie’s boat with Jim and Diana. Lucas said it was awesome but really his favorite part of spending the night at their Coeur d’Alene cabin was the opportunity to spend the entire day in and out of the lake. Later we also spent a few days at Lake Chelan with Peyton and Walker and I know the entire motel could hear the four boys early in the morning as they headed to the lake, then the hot tub, then the pool.

Now the orangutans await us and I’m confident we will still be speaking in a few weeks. It will be a little much together time with a few challenges for us to keep up with the young volunteers. Then there’s the week following when we attempt to find our way through Kota Kinabalu, Brunei and Kuching. I can’t wait.

Lucky Me

Betty identified me as lucky because I have grand sons nearby and I get to see them often. Now I am more grateful especially when I find several clothing items on my bathroom floor and can pick up multiple individual shoes all over the house, not to mention wet towels. They bring more summer friends which I do really like as I remember how I hate it when no one comes to swim.

Linda and Esther were here for such a short time but we had fun following the two year old around and watching her play in water. After I dropped them off at the airport I continued on to meet Cyd and the new day care provider who is now only five minutes from their home. This is only significant because for over four years the boys have had a two hour daily commute to and from Bright Horizons. I suppose this freeway travel is typical for city dwellers.

Peyton is a crazy bike rider who likes to go fast. Walker likes to talk and has much to say as he likes to be in charge. They are both so grown up but occasionally can flip out with some interesting behavior to keep us on our toes. Mostly they are daring swimmers and enthusiastic participants in athletic pursuits.

It is beautiful in Spokane these days. Sunny, hot, green, and quiet make for a good location. Saturday was the Annual Eight Lakes Leg Aches bicycle ride. I now believe my bike is just slow enough to make me enjoy riding 30 miles. The ride was great but the recuperating is taking longer each year.

Today Diana has invited us to visit at their Coeur d’Alene Lake rental cabin. She will have two grandsons and they can play with my two grandsons. At least that’s what we hope will happen. They are already excited because they need to bring sleeping bags and fishing poles. I remember very well when we had much fun on that lake as children too. And that was before we were able to mess around in kayaks. Later in the week the extended Lewis family is heading to Lake Chelan where we coincidentally plan to run into Barb and Ron. At the same motel even.

Jessica is leaving for Norway this week. Maybe she will let us come and visit during her Rotary Exchange Year. Her mom is on her way to becoming an appeals court judge which may not be old news to you since you don't read FB. Thanks again for all the trip arrangements you’ve made. I’ll send my packing list soon so you can compare it to the one you’ve made. Remember a flashlight.