I never thought I would say this - I love a city. Generally I just tolerate them and find a way to have a good life in them. But I never love them, until I came to Seattle.
I had always avoided Seattle because it is listed as only having only 164 days of sun and winters are dark, gloomy and only 8.5 hours of daylight (not sunlight) on Dec 21. Have I mentioned that I spent the last 18 years of my life living in places that get about 300 days of sun a year? I thrive on sun and my spirit soars when it is out. How could I live in Seattle if it has only 164 days of sun?
It was never on my list of places to live. (I recommend avoiding "never" statements as they are bound to happen).
And now I love it. It probably helps that the first 30 or more days I was here it was sunny and spectacular. I still never planned to move here, I was just coming to teach a class for a new MBA school (a friend is the Dean and he asked me to come). I had planned to be here 10 days and then head down to LA and be there for a while until I figured out what next.
I never made it to LA. During those 10 planned days, it became clear that this was where I was to be. Within a week I had a place to live that I could afford. I am sharing an apartment (three blocks from Seattle Pacific University) with another single woman in her ... well, my age, who is great. And she has a dog, Skyla. Skyla is a Chow/German Shepherd mix and we go for walks every morning to see the incredible sunrise or try to find out way out of storms.
How can you NOT like that face?!
Don't tell her but she is not the best dog I ever loved. That title goes to "Buddy the Wonder Dog". And his person was the BEST room mate ever.
I have gotten to see some pretty cool things since I have gotten here. One Sunday while walking from the bus stop I happened upon a parade of the International Association of Women Police.
It was amazing to see the women walking the streets in their formal dress
Netherlands and Philippines
because I have been to the Netherlands and am going to the Philippines
Antique police cars joined the parade.
I felt like I was in a move.
Did I mention they are big American football fans here? It is a good good city for me. Some friends drove over from Idaho and we all went to a college football game together. It was a good game and the home team colors are purple and gold (how can I not live here - I love purple?)
University of Washington Marching Band in action
The view of Lake Washington from the stadium
If you squint you can see Michael Gates' house way over there.
Oh, and there are mountains all around me. I can often see Mount Rainier, a snow capped active volcano. Olympia National Park, is just across the Sound and in the mornings when it is clear, the mountains are breath-taking. Then there are the Cascades which I drive along when headed 90 miles N of Seattle to work with the Lummi Nation (a Native American Indian community wanting to create a Management Training Certificate program for their people).
Some of the mountains I can see from downtown
And the downtown is just pretty. I have walked around it quite a bit. Which requires a good set of lungs as the hills are San Francisco "esque". The water is generally always visible and it is filled with interesting places to see and incredible buildings.
Pikes Market made famous for the fresh fish that the fishermen
throw around. It also has stunning vegetables and flowers.
Sure, its a sunny day but it is beautiful even in the rain.
You can see the water and a thin line of Olympia National Park
Did I mention the trees everywhere?
It is fall right now and my absolutely favorite time of years with the incredible colors of the leaves and crisp air.
Winter is around the corner so we will see how it goes. I hear they sell lamps that help replicate the joy juice of the sun. It will probably be on my Christmas list so start saving now!
As for work, well, that is for another blog. Suffice it to say, that at the moment I am planning to be in Hong Kong and Manilla in February and again in April, for work. There have been talks of the Bahamas and Jamaica so maybe I will get my sun after all.
For now, just know - life is good and I am living with no regrets!
