Trips and Traditions

Getting to Mt. St. Helens with Jeff and Bev proved to be a two-day effort. We only got to the RV dealer and the quilt shop the first day, so had to save the mountain for the next day. We looked at the Winnebago and Alpine coaches again, and again assured our saleman that we have no money, but that didn't seem to slow him down. We are not especially serious about a new coach, but it is fun to look.

Bev was duly impressed with Sister's Quilt Shop in Chehalis, and I think it is the best in the area. Quilt shops are like book stores, one just can't walk out without buying something, even if you have no immediate use for it. Ken and Jeff found the bakery next door to the quilt shop and that is where they whiled away the time while we shopped.

Mt. St. Helens is always a fascinating visit, and I learned more about the dome building process which is continuing inside the crater. There are several ridges that have emerged and over time they build, collapse in on themselves, and then begin the building process again. The movie shown at the visitor's center is very powerful, and when it ends, the curtains open on a windowed wall that looks right out on to the mountainside.

I drove to Spokane on Sunday to continue a family tradition of visiting the Colfax cemetery where Mike's and my family is buried. I remember as a youngster that this was an annual outing combined with visiting some family while in town for the day. When I was young, the 70 mile round trip to Colfax seemed like a major outing. Sheila, I thought of you yesterday because the Palouse Hills were breathtaking with their blanket of green ranging from the light pea green to the winter and summer wheat hues of green. I remember you thought that countryside was quite lovely.

Mike and Mary go to the cemetery every year, but since Mary was in Texas visiting Becky, I said I would go with him as did Joel. After purchasing flowers in Spokane, we got as far as Spangle (about 15 miles south of Spokane's city limits) when I decided we should stop for a snack. Since it was now about 11:30, we opted for breakfast!! Then back down the road.

As with most rural cemeteries, this one sits atop the highest hill overlooking the town, and as usual, it was a bit windy and cold! In talking to a local resident, I learned that the FFA group makes and sets the holders for the veterans flags, and then the VFW places the flags. These are the flags from the coffins that the family has turned over to the VFW, and each of the flags is identified with the veteran's name. It is quite moving to see the 200+ flags flying at this relatively small cemetery.

Unfortunately, my brother Pat was not represented, and I suspect no one has made contact with his kids to ask for the flag. So I will follow up. Uncle Paul's flag was flying.

I have created a pretty tasty inexpensive roadtrip menu for the drive to Spokane. McDonald's coffee is very tasty and a junior hamburger at Wendy's with lettuce, tomato, and onion is plenty ample. So two drive-through windows, and I'm on my way. I was feeling pretty smug over my low-cal dining-stay-awake experiences. My other constraint was to set the cruise control at 65 mph even though everyone including the semis were passing me. That is my path of resistance against the gas prices, but I forgot to save my receipt so have no idea if there was any appreciable savings.

Now for the next week we will focus on getting the motor home ready to go to Mt. Home for Brian's change of command and farewell party. Ciao