I had a phenomenal time in Seattle this weekend. And such gorgeous weather! (I don’t know whether the bluest skies are in Seattle, but they sure were blue when I was there.)
Today I woke feeling like Cinderella after the ball. What? No more champagne? No more limousine? No more Shen Yun? No more ferris wheels and fish feasts? Ah, but I have something Cinderella never had . . . photos!!
It truly was a star-studded weekend.
And the star was . . . me! Here I am decked out in sparkles and party eyes, ready to go to Shen Yun.
But wait! I have to tell you about the first day. My sister and brother-in-law met me right outside the secure area at the airport, then took me to a restaurant on the Puget Sound waterfront where we feasted on crab, shrimp, mussels, corn, sausage, potatoes, and probably a few other things.
Next, we rode a ferris wheel on the pier . . .
and could see . . . well, not exactly forever, but almost.
To keep with the theme of going round and round, we went on a carousel at a nearby arcade. This was my trusty steed.
Before we left the waterfront, we stopped by Pikes Place Market. It was late, and most vendors had packed up, but the flower sellers were still there. Flowers, flowers, everywhere.
The next day, we had a liesurely breakfast (a strata prepared by a professonal chef — my brother-in-law!) then dressed in our finery and waited for the limo my sister hired to take us to see Shen Yun. Often during this past trying year, I’ve found comfort telling myself that I am where I am supposed to be. This little affirmation takes on a whole new meaning when one is driving around in a limousine drinking champagne!
And Shen Yun, the whole point of this excursion? I was afraid that after that first wonderful day of playing in the sun, the show would be anticlimactic, but it was fantastic. Truly a delight for the eyes and the ears. As the program explained, Shen means “divine” and Yun refers to a dancer’s style and the meaning behind his or her movements, so Shen Yun is about “the grace, compassion, and sublime beauty of heavenly realms that are shown through the subtlest expessions and gestures of the dancers.” Truly an experience.
After the show, we went to a fancy restaurant right on the water. (I had Pacific Northwest Chowder and Dungeness Crab Cakes.) While enjoying a touch of desert (lemon semifreddo) we watched the sun set on a perfect day.
There were many gifts and blessings arising from this weekend, including a closer connection to my sister (and brother-in-law), a realization that yes, someday I can be happy again, and the crowning glory of the stay — a new chapeau.
***
Pat Bertram is the author of the suspense novels Light Bringer, More Deaths Than One, A Spark of Heavenly Fire, and Daughter Am I. Bertram is also the author of Grief: The Great Yearning, “an exquisite book, wrenching to read, and at the same time full of profound truths.” Connect with Pat on Google+
Bertram's Blog 
April 1, 2013 at 5:11 pm
So glad you have a wonderful weekend and reconnected with family. I continue to be so proud of how you are dealing with the loss of your soulmate
April 1, 2013 at 8:40 pm
Thank you, Patty. It’s an adjustment, that’s for sure.
April 1, 2013 at 6:33 pm
So so glad for you. Well deserved….any thoughts of settling there some day?
April 1, 2013 at 8:39 pm
I have no thoughts of settling anywhere. I truly hate the idea of settling down, even if I were to move somewhere I have siblings. They have their own lives, so I’d still mostly be bleakly alone.
April 2, 2013 at 4:34 pm
Great photos! And I love your hat! Glad you had fun and had a positive outcome to your trip.
April 2, 2013 at 7:29 pm
Thank you, Sherrie. I love my hat, too. Not something I’d have picked for myself, but my sister has great taste.
April 2, 2013 at 4:57 pm
Nicely written – a lovely post that I thoroughly enjoyed reading!
April 2, 2013 at 7:29 pm
Thank you!
April 2, 2013 at 5:46 pm
Thank you for sharing your fantastic journey with us, Pat. Fantastic photographs as well!
April 2, 2013 at 7:29 pm
Thank you, Deb. It really was a fantastic journey.
April 2, 2013 at 7:07 pm
I love the pictures (not only can you write but you can also shoot a nice photo); I love the sentiment that moved your sister and brother-in-law to do this for you and I love the wonderful way in which you received this thoughtful gift. Again, I was moved to tears by your post, but these of a quite different nature than the ones your blog posts occasionally procure. As always Pat, thank you for sharing! Oh, and as Note Bene, might I add that you look lovely in your finery, truly lovely.
April 2, 2013 at 7:27 pm
You say such nice things! The best thing about the weekend was that I caught a glimpse of happiness. It’s nice to know that somewhere down the road I can find a new way of being happy.
April 3, 2013 at 10:47 am
Oh, Pat–what a lovely break-cation for you–without duties, among generosity and love! A terrific hat, too, and I love the pics. hugs,
Jw
April 3, 2013 at 11:01 am
Juliet, thank you. It was wonderful. And I really did need a break.
April 3, 2013 at 4:46 pm
Thanks for the lovely photos. You look well. I love the sparkles. You are an inspiration, Pat.
April 3, 2013 at 6:30 pm
Thank you, Nancy. It’s nice to know I’m an inspiration, but I’ve only done what all of us do — take one step at a time.