On Living in Seattle
When the sun comes out, it is the most beautiful city on earth (yes, I’ve been to Paris). The huge fresh water lakes sparkle. You see the snow covered mountains all around you; the smooth ones to the East and the sharper ones to the West. The grass and large evergreen trees are the greenest you’ve ever seen in your life, and the flowers the brightest. On Puget Sound, the salt water attracts the seagulls that lunge at and around you as the large sail boats glide across the water in tranquility. The Farmer’s Markets around town bring out the freshest fruit and the most amazing fish whose spiny flesh sparkles in the sun, which lasts well in to the late evening before descending in to the Sound in a warm banner of turquoise, orange and red. Families take the ferries out to the islands and watch the sun set from the cold but beautiful beaches, roasting marshmallows and looking out over the skyline of the city. Everyone remarks at how wonderful a choice they made to live here.
When there are clouds the sky is gray, the ocean is gray, the lakes are gray, and the trees are gray. You can’t see any mountains as the cloud cover is always dark and deep seated in the valleys. The strong, sharp winds take the drizzling rain sideways and the umbrellas out of the hands of their owners. Everyone remarks at how horrible a choice they made to live here.
They sit inside coffee houses and drink lattes and wonder why they ever left California or Wisconsin and contemplate going back home that moment - buying a ticket – hopping on a plane with just a suitcase and their life savings and going back to their family - or maybe live with their sister in Boston or brother in Idaho; anything to escape the dark drizzly wetness of their lives..
.. and then there is a sun break, and it is again the most beautiful city on earth (and yes, I’ve been to Paris)
April 16th, 2008 at 7:03 pm
(rofl) !!!!!
As a Port Angeles native now living in northwest Oregon, I cannot express my appreciation for your entry. I’ve read it to all my office co-workers.
Well said!
-Mike (R)