Road Tripping in Seattle

We drove to Seattle in response to an invitation from my cousin Sally who is celebrating one year of treatment free life (from leukemia) for her daughter Mary Elizabeth. That is a lot to celebrate after three years of intensive chemotherapy and radiation and a very restricted lifestyle. A lot is going on here but lets just say it was a really wonderful celebration. Sally took time out from her hostess tasks to let me snap her pix; she looks relaxed and happy which is a great thing (not to mention that she is an attorney engaged in family law practice which has its own set of stresses I am certain). Congratulations, Sally and Mary Elizabeth, wishing you many happy healthy days ahead, for each of you.

This is the beauteous Mary Elizabeth herself, at breakfast the following morning. We met at Louisa's Bakery to have some one-on-one time with Sally and M-E. After catching up on bits of family news, Sally declared it was past time for a reunion of all the cousins in the family. This could be a fabulous event or the groundwork for an enormous family uprising. Either way, it could be a lot of fun, so I agreed to help if she pursues it. Anyway, doesn't M-E look healthy and gorgeous? I am especially impressed as I had not seen her since she was about five years old and she is now fourteen (maybe fifteen, I am not keeping up with birthdays; see above about a reunion being overdue.)

This is Mary Elizabeth with her third cousin Weezie and her great aunt Marguerite (GreatGrandma to Weezie) who is my mom.
Reconnecting with family is one of the reasons we decided to relocate to the Inland Northwest. We have extended family here; it is a pleasure to reconnect with them. Sally gave GG one of the beautiful quilts she makes; we agreed that it will eventually go to Weezie but not for a long long time. Of course we arrived empty handed (organizing a road trip overtasks us) but filled with loving good wishes. For this trip that will have to suffice.