I’ve recently returned from a two-week trip to the west coast to visit our children and granddaughter. Traveling is always a challenge, and trips like this can be bittersweet because parting is such sweet sorrow, but I must say that we had a wonderful vacation!
We traveled first to Los Angeles and then to Portland to see our family and see some sites we haven’t seen before. I’m including a few pictures from our trip, from bookstores to the zoo in L.A. to the Japanese Gardens in Portland.
I did not take my computer with me and had limited access to the internet while there, which was a wonderful break and stress release. I bought a couple of books at two different bookstores – because writers simply must visit bookstores in out of the way places!
We had hoped to see some additional family and friends that lived in the area, but the timing did not work well. Perhaps next time. But we did take the challenge of a five-mile hike in the woods and I definitely got plenty of steps recorded on my health app on my phone. However, 15,000 steps in one day was a bit much for my body to handle.
Portland does have a lot of beauty this time of year. It didn’t rain while we were there and the leaves were beginning to turn on the trees. They say if we could have been there a few weeks later, the colors would have been gorgeous, but we will have to wait for Michigan’s colors instead.
The downside of travel tended to be on the plane where the seats are so crowded my seat mate could barely work on her laptop because the people in front of her reclined their seats. Seriously, Delta, the seats and aisles are too narrow and something needs to change. I’m sure that is true for most airlines.
One other sad note was the many homeless people we saw on the streets of Portland. I know the west struggles with this problem and there is no easy solution. To see it firsthand in such great numbers was heartbreaking. I know we have the problem in Detroit, but I think the numbers are higher out west. I wish I had answers to this situation. I simply don’t.
On a happier note, we had a wonderful trip, despite congested traffic. (They don’t have pot holes like we do here.) I would have liked to see the ocean – my only visit west where we’ve missed it – but there was nothing to be done about that. We did find some great donut and chocolate spots, so I suppose that makes up for the ocean. Sort of…
All in all, we are glad to be home, though we miss our family. Tiger is happy we are back. He has had some health issues, but they are minor. Just annoying to treat as he does not like medication. (What cat does?)
I am grateful for the break from work, but since returning have been hit hard with much to do. Page proofs, edits, and more. But it will all get done, one day at a time. Until the next break comes along.
Be blessed.
#livegrace #vacation #homesweethome #westcoastdreams #grateful MusingsOctober 10, 2018
