Jul9

Sleepless in Seattle (but not really. I slept.)

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Sleepless in Seattle (but not really. I slept.)

Wynne Leon and I had been talking about me visiting her for years. Then in May, inspiration struck while doing the most meditative, higher-plane of all tasks: laundry. The first week of July–no Taekwondo, off work for the holiday, relatives in town to keep an eye on our kids… Could we make it happen in two months? I spoke with all the affected parties, and we could!

Hubs and I booked our tickets.

“I’m on a plane. I can’t complain.” [You with me on those lyrics, M?]

I let Wynne know we were officially on our way with this picture. She and I had been counting down the days, somewhat incredulous that this was ACTUALLY happening.

We took the two hour, 41-minute flight (just long enough for me to cry my way through A Man Called Otto, highly recommend) up the coast on July 4. From Sea/Tac airport we took the light rail train. I once again let Wynne know of our progress.

“I’m on a train. I can’t complain.” (It still works.)

And then, because every new experience is a delight for me, I got permission to take a picture of our Lyft driver. It was my first Lyft, okay?!

You can’t see his mouth, but you can tell in the rear view mirror that he’s smiling. [M: “Rear view mirrrrrrooooorrrrrr!!!”]

A large chalk “Welcome Betsy and Paul,” courtesy of Wynne’s daughter Miss O, greeted us on the sidewalk outside Wynne’s beautiful home. And finally…

What up, homey? I’m here!!!

Not only were we visiting Wynne, but she let us stay in her house! Where her children sleep! That’s some high level sight-unseen trust that Hubs and I aren’t actually psychopaths.

Because we came on July 4, Wynne had left her car at the marina that morning so we’d be sure to have an easy way home after the fireworks display from her brother’s WWII Navy tugboat. This was a bonus in so many ways because not only would we have a front-row seat to the fireworks over the water, but I love historical stuff.

“I’m about to be on a boat. I can’t compl…” Nope. That doesn’t work.
A pic from the 1940s of the boat doing its thang, pushing a sub.
The sun sets late up here, so the show didn’t start until 10:15.
Speakers blared music. The whole thing was spectacular and over too soon. People cheered and boats blasted their horns in salute of a job well done.

The next day was Hub’s and my 20th anniversary. I’m pretty sure it goes: first anniversary, paper; twentieth, grunge. Besides, nothing says romance like a grunge tour, amiright? And since Seattle is the birthplace of grunge…

This was not Hubby’s scene, but the poor sap loves me, so he graciously drove me around the city in Wynne’s generously-loaned car.

Since I’m guessing it’s not the scene for most of my readers, either, I’ll spare the details and just show a couple of highlights.

This graffiti outside Easy Street Records is historic. I was touching the wall in awe. People walking by wore confused expressions, clearly not understanding what the big deal was.

Inside, I took loads of pictures. An employee asked how I was doing, so, despite the “tourists are annoying” stereotype, I told him flat out that I was going “full on tourist,” explaining I’d been a grunge girl since age 12.

“Right on,” he said and pointed out specific iconic photographs (Kurt Cobain in his white sunglasses, Eddie Vedder’s dive from the rafters at a show) taken by famed photographers who still frequent the store. He kindly handed Hubby a couple of stickers with the record store logo. (One now adorns my car’s gas cap.)

Next stop was Viretta Park, the unofficial Kurt Cobain memorial, next to his former home.

People have left tokens and written song lyrics and other messages on the benches.

On the way out, I noticed words and drawings on a sawed off log.

I didn’t come prepared with a black Sharpie, but I did have a pen in my purse. Maybe it was sacrilege, but I left my initials near the name of one of my favorite Nirvana songs. (middle left)

Apparently another thing to do in Seattle is visit this one building they call the Space… Needle? (Heh. Heh. Kidding.) This was Hubby’s one request, so sure. He earned it. 😉

The seedy underbelly of the Space Needle on a beautiful clear day. Zero rain on this trip. (Kidding about the seediness. We were standing next to valet parking.)
Incredible 360 views from the 605 foot structure built for the World’s Fair in 1962.
It was trippy and a little dizzying when we stepped onto the rotating glass floor. I said to Hubby, “I’ve gotta lie on it. I’ve just gotta.”
And so I did.

There’s also a small restaurant up there, and since it was our anniversary and all…

We got “Seattle dogs” with sautéed vegetables and cream cheese(!) at the hot dog stand across the street. The hot dogs were almost as great as our chef flashing a blue-gloved peace sign in this picture.

I learned from my physical therapist that fish throwing at Pike Place Market was famous. Since I’d only Googled all-things-grunge, I’d missed this fun fact. I’m glad he told me about it. We arrived just in time to see it happen, but unfortunately, I only have that as a video, which I can’t post here. :/

Pike Place also houses the very first Starbucks. The line was down the street, so I only took a picture.

That evening, Wynne hosted a scrumptious birthday meal for her brother Jay of the Tug Boat (his full official name), where I also got to hear entertaining stories from his lovely wife Lindsey, Wynne’s famously funny friend Eric, and her fabulous mom Carolyn whom I almost felt I knew from having read Wynne’s book, Finding My Father’s Faith.

On the whole, a great, great time. Thank you again SO much, Wynnie! 🙂

Readers: Have you been to Seattle or the Space Needle? Care about grunge music or historic tug boats? Would you lie down on a glass floor hundreds of feet in the air? Do share!

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80 responses »

  5. Amazing trip! And how fun to get to meet another blogger! And celebrate a milestone anniversary. Many Congrats on that. I’ve ever been to the PNW at all, but it’s on my bucket list. I don’t do heights, so I’ve always just watched when my family has gone up in those types of buildings. I did relent and go to the Top Of the Rock in NYC and it was terrifying for me, so nope.

    Though not a grunge fan, I did read Dave Grohl’s book. I think tugboats are cute! And I did know about the fish throwing because I was an avid fan of Real World Seattle and watched the fish getting thrown every week in the opening sequence.

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    • Never heard of Real World Seattle! Or Top of the Rock! Currently listening to Dave Grohl’s book because Wynne’s brother Jay and his wife Lindsey told us about it at dinner. Enjoying it very much so far.

      Honestly, heights are my biggest fear, but my love of new experiences out-weighed that apparently. I didn’t see anyone else lay down, and very few even walked on the glass part. So, kinda weird that I did, but I just had to! 😛

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      • Um, what? You do know of MTV’s Real World, I hope! Top of the Rock is the name of the viewing level on top of Rockefeller Center. Grohl’s book was awesome! I do like the Foo Fighters. I’m proud of you for conquering your fear up there.Sometimes you just have to push yourself to get the most out of life.

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  6. Clarifications:
    1. Not my scene-while technically true (I was more of a big hair band guy-Bon Jovi, Cinderella, Poison.) I did listen to Nirvana in college and was subjected to Black Hole Sun when it came out in 1994 and for several years afterwards. Also, when Pearl Jam hit it big in the early nineties (when I was in HS) it seemed like EVERYone liked them… which led me to automatically dislike them (no real rational reason other than never being one whole followed the crowd). After being married to my wonderful wife for around 10+ years or so, when she reconnected with her love of Pearl Jam, I took a real listen for the first time. They are good. I like them. I have since branched out and also enjoy Soundgarden, Temple of the Dog, Audioslave. So…it is sort-of my scene. I just don’t have the same emotional connection them; the connection I have is with my wife.
    2. Am I a poor sap? I am not poor.
    3. “Loves me” – This one needs no clarification. I do love her; like crazy Speaking of crazy, when I was in college and some friends and I were on a rooftop bar that over looked a live buffalo, we…wait, what was the question?
    4. “Graciously drove me around” – Yes. It would have been much less fun if I left her on the sidewalk and drove around by myself. Again, see #3.
    Note: I am the unofficial photographer of many of these pictures. They are pretty good, right? That’s because the subject is pretty AND good. Made it easy. AND the pictures would have been less interesting if she was not in them.

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  8. While I’ve been to Seattle many times, I must admit that I’ve never done a grunge tour. Given my advanced age, I hope you’ll forgive me. Hubby and I will be celebrating our twentieth in September, I’m going to have to re-think the whole gift thing now that I know it’s the grunge anniversary. Darn.

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  9. Thanks so much for sharing, Betsy! What a great trip — your photos are fab and I can’t imagine all the fun you had with Wynne and family! Yay! And congrats on your anniversary, too. 🥰

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  11. Looks like a wonderful trip. You should have told me you were going there. My grandson is living in Seattle for the summer doing his college internship. I would have given you his address so you could have stopped by and see if he’s keeping his room clean and eating anything other than ramen noodles … 😉

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  13. I love this trip report, Betsy, and not just because me and my family are mentioned all the way through. 🙂 It was so much fun to have you here. Your energy and effusiveness are so amazing and it was so delightful to feel that in person. The grunge tour – I love all the places you were explored and the wonderful passion you have for it all. It was SO AWESOME to meet you and your husband – thank you for making the trip and spending your 20th anniversary with us!! ❤ ❤ ❤

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    • I can’t think of a better way we could have spent our time, Wynne, except for me helping more with dinner and clean up!!! You’re so generous, and your family and friends are a delight. We did it, Wynne. We finally actually did it! It was just over too soon. ❤ ❤ ❤

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      • Awh, I’m so glad to hear we passed muster with them. A great group you’ve got around you up there. And please let Jay know Paul and I are still enjoying the Dave Grohl book. That’s what I listen to now while getting ready for bed. Sorry, Brene, Malcolm, and Jordan. 😉

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  14. What a fabulous trip PIF! It’s ALWAYS nice to get away and see things you haven’t seen and meet people you’ve ‘known’ but not yet met! What a super host!

    Glad to see that leg isn’t keeping you down and out.

    HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!!! 🙂

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    • Yes, to all of the above, and THANK YOU!!!! 🙂

      Guess who’s heading back to class tonight? And if all goes well, I should be testing for that oh-so-elusive red belt on the 17th. Please, Lord, let me be able to test this time!!!! 😛 😡 😉

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      • Just returned from physical therapy where I was told to give it another week before returning to TKD. I’m like, uuhhhhmmm… Not sure about that. He said to take it very easy. No twisting, or I may set myself back to square one. I told Sensei this. He suggested a knee brace. I can’t keep putting off this test. I think I can do round kicks if I do a couple little hop turns instead of pivots. This is getting ooooooollllllldddddd, lemme tell ya! If I can just get that darn red belt THEN hurt myself again if it’s going to happen! 😛

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  15. You surely drew me into this post with the title already. I was 21 in 91, so yeah. Seattle was on the mind. I don’t like the word grunge but I felt it. It helped me. The world came a little more together. I’m so glad for your experience and lived it through you. Not so much Nirvana though. No beef, and I like the songs just fine, it’s just that they gave me a most underwhelming show of my life. It was Kurt’s last full show, alas. (In my city, Ljubljana, Slovenia). Whereas Pearl Jam gave me 10 outstanding ones. The last was in Rome five years ago and amore got us VIP tickets. That’s where grunge gets you. 😀

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  17. Betsy, happy anniversary 🌷🍾️🎈Love your smiling pictures! I only went to Seattle once. It was a job interview. Apparently I didn’t have a lot of fun. One of your questions: lie down on a glass floor hundreds of feet in the air? I think it is too challenging for me😜

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  18. PIF, haha! I know exactly the little hop turn vs pivot 😂 Can they substitute a non-pivoting kick? Or a hand break? Do they have you doing any exercises to build up the leg/knee muscles? Is a brace an option? SO MANY QUESTIONS!!!!

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    • Lots of round, crescent, and side kicks in the forms I’ll need to do, so I’ll hop my way into position. (I love that you know what I mean!) We didn’t actually nail down what I’ll do as far as breaking. The palm heel should be fine. Maybe I’ll just do one break this test and add the kicks on to the next test. I’m in physical therapy, and the knee is slowly but surely improving. Sensei did suggest a brace when I told him my PT guy said to maybe wait a week before returning to TKD. (Not an option!) So I’ll wear the leg brace for extra protection next week for testing which will now be on Tuesday instead of Monday. Class starts at 8:15 your time, with 15 minutes of practice/warm-up before the “fun” begins. Picture the emoji with the wide “eek” teeth for me, ‘kay? Thanks. 😉

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      • Oh, well none of those kicks can really be done without the pivot (or in this case, hop). Here’s the thing about martial arts, it is a self defense. We are not always going to be in our prime if we need to defend ourselves. So. How are you going to defend yourself in this current condition? That is what part of ‘this’ test could be about. It’s like messing up a test in a form. I’ve seen a number of my master instructor’s mess up their form during a class AND test. The difference? They never stopped. They improvised. Because the form is a ‘fight’. Even during tests, instructors paid attention when students messed up but kept going. So like, uhm, here, if you are physically challenged what would you do ? I know what I’m trying to say. I think you get me. I think this test for you is a whole different kind of challenge then just the learned forms and defenses.

        Eek coming right up. 😬

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      • Part of my test will be to fight the urge to go all in because I want to do my best for testing, but really ought to be mindful of my injury and not be an idiot (for a change.) So many challenging emotions going into this particular test. Lately I’ve been reminding myself to block everything else out: “Just do the work. Get the belt” is my new mantra. And oh how great it will be when I finally get that sucker!!! Ahhhhh!!!!

        And, yes, I get what you’re saying. Sensei has said that even if we mess up in the test, just keep going as though you meant to do that. I have a hard time with that because I sort of want to make an expression that says, “I know I made a mistake!” But your excellent reminder and lesson will convict me to keep my cool and keep going.

        And lol on the “eek” face. You’re the best. Have I ever mentioned that before?? 😉 ❤

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      • I have to keep adding a new comment because it won’t let me reply after you reply.

        The urge to express your mistake is not something that you HAVE to do. You aren’t going to stop defending yourself if your ‘move’ was not what you trained for, but it worked. One of the main lessons to learn in self defense is to react. Not stop and ask your attacker if you can have a ‘do over’. (If you could see me laughing right now, can’t tell you how many times I had to be taught that one!).

        Ah. A lesson. “Don’t be an idiot”. 😂😂😂. I’m sorry, I couldn’t resist quoting you.

        😉 YOU are the very best. Everyone here knows this. ❤

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      • WordPress is weird. It does that to me on certain blogs at times, too. [shrug]

        You remind me of the several times in Jiu-Jitsu when I’ve said, “Hang on. Don’t attack me yet. I need to fix my hair first.” 😛 I’m sure that went over well with all my male opponents. [eye roll emoji]

        I’ll keep going and not stop to think about it, even though “don’t be an idiot” might be hard for me since it just comes naturally! 🙂

        As to your last statement… deep, internalizing breath. Be still my little blog buddy heart. ❤

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  20. Standing on a transparent floor hundreds of feet up in the air? Oh no no no no no no – not in a million years. My good friend Vertigo would never approve. Speaking of a million years, the Space Needle is exactly as old as I am. Which means you ascended an old structure (with occasional aches and pains). What were you thinking?

    Grunge person that I am (not), I chose to focus instead on your putting one of the stickers on your car’s gas cap. Genius! You’ll get to enjoy it every 300-400 miles. You’ve discovered one of the last bits of real estate not (yet) captured by advertisers…

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    • “What was I thinking?” Haha. Well, I survived, and I hope the old structure gets occasional maintenance!

      Thanks for appreciating my gas cap sticker idea. It will make me smile whenever I fill my tank. And if anyone recognizes Easy Street Records, that will be a fun conversation. 🙂

      Thanks for commenting, Dave! 🙂

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  21. No wonder you pestered (politely!) me to read this. I’m probably the grungiest blog friend you know! 🙂

    Have I been to Seattle? Oh, once or twice, I think…

    Looks like you hit all the important spots except for the “Singles” apartment building, which I have no doubt would be instantly recognizable to a fan such as yourself. I’ve been to the park next to KC’s former home and seen the same graffiti on the same benches. I probably even added my own Mark. Literally.

    The fish throwing? Totally a thing. And they never miss. It’s impressive!

    This whole post makes me miss Seattle a little.

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  25. An epic visit! Thank you for taking us along on this fabulous trip!
    It has been more than 2 decades since I was last in Seattle – but I do remember fish throwing very well. And I missed out on all the grunge when I visited, so I appreciate seeing those little bits through your eyes!
    I love that you relish trip photographs and posing for them – I absolutely love you lying on that glass floor – way to go on unusual views!

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  26. Pingback: 5 mins with Reaching Out – Touring My Backyard

  28. Wow Betsy – what a great trip you had! So glad you had the chance to meet up with your friend, Wynne and see the sights of Seattle. The Space Needle floor looks scary! You guys know how to have fun – and I love seeing all your pictures 🙂

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