Author Archives: Jan

This day I’ve been planning for and dreaming about since October of 2023 has finally arrived. My sons and I [and our respective people] are all together under the roof of a single hotel, and a beautiful, medium-sized ship, the Holland America ms Eurodam, is on its way down from Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, to pick us up from Pier 91 in Smith Cove Cruise Terminal. I’m abuzz with excitement. I woke around 4:30 or 5:00 and sat by the window looking out over Elliott Bay. The day wasn’t beautiful, as it had been the day before, but at least … Continue reading →

I woke on Friday morning to a text from Cynthia that she and Scott had landed at Sea-Tac at 10:30. Jas and I went down to Bacco for breakfast and then explored in the Market until time to meet Scott and Cynthia to walk to the Underground meeting place. Now let’s be clear about one painful fact: during this trip, my knees, both of them, were arthritis-ridden and were functioning as if they were 75 years old. So I was walking slowly and gingerly, and trying not to be a whiner. The excursion through the underground that Cynthia had arranged … Continue reading →

The alarm rang at 3:30 and we were on the 4:30 shuttle. The ticketing area at CLE was insane at 5:00 a.m. Where are all these people going?!!! After standing in line for about two minutes for PreCheck, a security person got the attention of the traveler ahead of us and told us all to follow her. She knew another PreCheck TSA line that was not at all busy, and we were placing our bags on the belt in a couple of minutes. But then I saw a TSA official grabbing one of my carry-ons. Yes, the dreaded search. Most … Continue reading →

Here’s the wine rack in the 2019-renovated kitchen of our 1927 home, decorated with an early birthday card my lifelong BFF sent. Her granddaughter picked it out, having never met me, and it has musical notes on it!!! I’m seventeen days from turning 75 years of age. I’ve spent the past nineteen months planning this trip, a terrific adventure for my sons, myself, and our people, as they say on “Grey’s Anatomy.” The boys’ father and I divorced when they were around ages 8 and 6. Now they are ages 52 and 50. We three have not taken a “family” … Continue reading →

Another summer, another opportunity to view the exquisite beauty that is everywhere one looks in Alaska. This cruise began with the whim of a twelve-year-old girl who thinks like I do. I refer to her as Miss C, and she’s the beautiful and intelligent daughter of my precious daughter-in-law, Leslie. Miss C has been in my younger son’s life since she was about four years old, and I’m fortunate to be able to visit with her several times each year. I have loved watching this now-almost-15-year-old young woman as she’s developing into the dynamo she’ll be as an adult. On … Continue reading →