A few days ago, Danielle of
Sometimes Sweet, started Journal Day over on her blog. I think this is a wonderful idea, especially coming from her background in English. When I was in elementary school, I loved to write silly stories, and as I moved into high school, I found Creative Writing to be one of my most favorite classes. I don't write anywhere near as much anymore (even though I have a blog!), and that kind of disappoints me. I've found that I even have trouble keeping up with a daily journal!
But when I saw this feature on Danielle's blog, I knew I had to join in and once more find my love with words.
The first topic she chose is "Describe A First".
The tickets had been booked, hotel reservations had been made, and (we thought) the rental car was reserved. It was final. In a couple of short months, I would be taking my first trip to the one city I had dreamed of visiting. I was going to Seattle.
My heart was so full in the weeks leading up to the trip. I would finally be able to see the sights I had only seen in photos, breathe in Seattle air, and feel the magical ambiance that the city created. There wasn't a doubt in my mind that I would fall in love with that city, and I did.
We left Oklahoma City for Chicago, then onward to Seattle. This trip also held another first for me - flying on an airplane. My nerves were a bit of a jumbled mess leading up to, and on, our first flight. Sean kept telling me that I would probably love it once we were in the air, but I laughed at that idea. I'm terrified of heights. I simply couldn't see myself fancying being thirty-some odd-thousand feet in the air. Once the plane was in the sky though, I realized that Sean was right. I did love it.
We made it to Seattle well after 11pm. After sorting out another rental car (those companies can be so frustrating), we drowsily headed to our hotel. Which, to my delight, was right in the middle of the downtown area, on 4th St. I remember how tired, hungry, and irritable we were. We wanted nothing more than to go to bed and wake up ready for a full day of adventure. Those feelings went away though, for an instant, as we rounded a bend in the road and saw the Seattle skyline shining bright. I was in complete awe. I didn't want to take my eyes off the illuminated buildings, but I knew I had to be the navigator. We arrived at our hotel room shortly after 1am. The first thing I did was pull back the curtains to our balcony. The view was the one reason Sean and chosen this specific room, in this specific hotel.
The nine days following blur together in my memory, but I do remember quite vividly each sight we visited. We chose to truly take in Seattle by walking most everywhere we went. I was glad that we made that decision, because I feel as though we were able to better experience the city that way, rather than being stuck in a stuffy car.
We visited the Space Needle, Alki Beach, Pike Place, the Experience Music Project, and took a ghost tour. We ate pizza at a wonderful little restaurant named Bambino's. We saw the ocean, the trees, and felt the slow rain. The trees were beautiful and ever-so green. I felt at home. It was
magical.
It was a wonderful first trip to Seattle. I dream of going back almost every day. I hope that someday I'm fortunate enough to make it my permanent home. But for now, I have my photographs of the city.
xo, A.
