"Why is this thus? What is the reason for this thusness?" - Artemis Ward

Craig's Excellent Camp Adventure - Prelude, pt. 1

Today I met dad at 7 a.m. for b'fast in the dining room here at the Ida Culver House and we were back to their unit about 9:00. Not much happens quickly when you're 89. (Dad, not me.) We visited until 11:30 when we left for the annual Salmon Bake the folks' Sunday School class has every year, and found out when we arrived that it's scheduled for next Thursday. Oops. So we went over to Spiro's Pizza for lunch instead. Great pizza, BTW.

As we were leaving dad had another "attack." It's the first one I've witnessed but apparently they're not uncommon and always happen either during or right after a meal. Scary. They're a little like a petit mal seizure, and that may be what they are. His dr. can't figure it out.

He insisted he was OK an hour later, so against someone's better judgment we went down to the Ballard Locks. I drove! Every guidebook will tell you that the Locks are a must-see if you're ever in Seattle, especially on a warm summer day. (They've had two of those so far this year.) It's fascinating to watch commercial fishing boats, small pleasure craft and everything in between make the transition from Lake Union out to Puget Sound. It's still a month too early for the salmon run, but the fish ladder is amazing in September.

The locks are surrounded by beautiful landscaped gardens now in full bloom.

Both of them were near exhaustion when we left but we took the long way home. 

I figured if we were that close we should drive by my childhood home there in Ballard.

My dad's parents lived on the same block and both my folks commented afterward how much they enjoyed seeing those houses again. But a lot has changed! They've narrowed the street to half the width I remember, I don't know how we ever played baseball in that alley, and the hill is much, much steeper.

They're both resting now, and in an hour my younger brother will join us for dinner in the dining room.  I don't know what we'll do tomorrow but I now it will NOT involve as much activity as today. I told them I would not allow either of them to die on my watch and I think I cut it a little close today.