The Lowdown On The Northwest

I think the whole “it’s rainy and gray here all the time” thing is a conspiracy the Seattle locals thought up jut to keep everyone from moving here. And I should have listened to my friend Kevin long ago when he lived here. “Konold,” he’d say, “I Really think you’d dig Seattle big time. You should come visit me.” I never took him up on it and I am now thoroughly kicking myself in the ass for it.

And Canada has been sandbagging, dear readers. Sure they try to dazzle us with Mounties in bright red uniforms; they talk up a storm about a social health care system, they trumpet NAFTA and CAFTA up and down the news headlines and even try to win the World Series ever now and then. But the one thing they hardly ever mention, and the one thing that only a handful of people can successfully locate on a map, is Vancouver. I can’t say I blame the canucks, either. I mean, if I had access to that gem-of-a-city, I wouldn’t tell anyone and I sure as hell wouldn’t invite people too often, no matter how many tourist dollars they’d bring in their pockets.

I could go on and on about the majestic scenery; the friendliness and openness of everyone we met; the exciting things that were at our disposal; and how clean everything was; but I would not come even remotely close to doing it justice.

Just go there, alright!? Your next vacation should be to the Pacific Northwest; primarily Seattle and Vancouver.

I did not expect this trip to be as spiritual as it has. It has reinforced the idea of being open to whatever comes my way and trying to balance that with a plan that isn't too hell-bent on staying a course. The Buddhist meditation and Reiki (which I may get into more later) were transformative. So was the chance to add persepctive to my examination of life by stepping two time zones to the left of it. (Your left, my right.) Time to get back to, well, nothing. This vacation ends tomorrow, kids. If it weren't for that glaring fact, I wouldn't even know what day it is.