Staycation

Dear friends,
We are enjoying our staycation in Seattle on a day coupled with bright sun and crisp winter air. First on the itinerary: Volunteer Park. We were craving an open space a place to spin and roll around in the fresh green grass. The beauty of being a tourist in your own town is that you can pack lightly. We filled up a carry-on bag with only the essentials, pesto and goat cheese sandwiches, ice cold grapes and a handful of ripe satsumas. The picnic spot G picked on the grassy knoll overlooked a reservoir that reflected views of the space needle and the city sky line. We watched the ducks land and take off, the rippling water distorting the image of the needle till it became stretchy, like pulled taffy.
"This hill is a ski jump" the little man observed as he licked the sticky satsuma juice running between his fingers. It was clear he was getting the wiggles and the sharp angle of this montecito was inviting the G to begin a series of "rolly pollies" down the hill. Over and over he would go like a crank turing out of control. It made me nauseous watching him and I laughed as it reminded me so much of myself, how i loved to feel dizzy twirling down the dunes of Lake Michigan.
The Seattle Asian Art Museum was our next stop. I couldn't stop taking photographs at this point so many art noveau windows and their shadows. The two camels guarding the entrance became the G's playgym. Strangely I felt connected to them the idea of carrying this load, this hump on your body made me appreciate this awkward looking beast. The G enjoyed the museum especially since the Chinese incorporate so many animals into their pottery and art work. We played i-spy to keep him busy..I spy tigers, I spy vipers and then went balmy when we spied a "real" griffin's head. As I walked through the silent hallways talking about art with the G, I relished the moment. We had him all to ourselves this boy bursting with questions. On this day there would be no baby distractions no screaming younger sibling. Just the G and his mama. Just the G and his dada.
Before heading to the car we decided to hike up the 100 stairs to the top of the water observatory. What an amazing sight to see Mt. Rainier against a blue cloudless sky to see the space needle, the city windows refracting light, a redwood 60 feet high.
The G didn't want to leave. He loved the perspective from this height. This tiny boy floating above the world like a bird, a cloud, the wind.

I've always pined to be in other places throughout my life...booking flights and making reservations to cities and towns all over the world. But in 2009 I've made a resolution to plan many staycations making travels in my hometown, becoming a tourist of the mind so that I might better focus on the beauty of the present moment.