Walla Walla, Washington, even Bugs Bunny knows where it is, but few others do. I grew up there from about age 10, but never really fell in love with the town. It has tried multiple times to re brand itself and redevelop to keep the jobs they have and potentially bring in more. You can’t help but love their can do attitude! None of their attempts have been successful until they shifted to vineyards and wineries and they are now finally seeing positive sustainable growth in the area. So it was nice to be able to go back and see some positive things happening there.
Kurt’s dad, unfortunately had a stroke and was still recovering in the nursing home, so we were working hard to get up to see him so we only stayed a few days before heading up to Tonasket, WA. It was great to get a few days with my mom and enjoy one of my brother’s good BBQ skills. One of my sister’s was even able to come down for dinner. We were able to help around my mom’s place to get some things done, but all too soon it was time to leave.
Well it should have been a 3-4 hour trip north to Tonasket, but apparently it was not meant to be. We got over to the TriCities and had just stopped to park so we could go to Costco. I run over to Costco and get the groceries and by the time I return the winds have picked up and there’s a storm coming in. I mean CRAZY storm. I can barely get the groceries in and Kurt decides to head out and see if we can stay outside the storm, but he didn’t even get 20 more minutes down the road and a gust of 35-45 mph almost took us off the road. So he pulled over to a parking lot and decided we would wait it out. Hoping the weather man was right and it would only be a couple of hours. Apparently about 20 other semi trucks also were hoping the same thing.
Why do we lie to ourselves like that? We know the weatherman has only 50% likelihood of being right. It ended up being about 8 hours before it stopped. So we stayed until the next morning then hit the road to finally get to the rest of the family. We finally made it in time to meet up with Kurt’s siblings and their kids. It’s always fun to meet with the different generations and for Kurt to be able to tell his “dad” jokes to new ones that haven’t heard them yet and get a laugh.
Our nieces and nephews all have grown up kids as well now so it’s always great to have another volleyball challenge or who can pull the most weeds game. Wait what you don’t play that age old fun game when your family is together? You’re missing out 😉 It’s great to be able to teach the wanna be drivers and would be marksman’s.
But alas it is time to go for everyone and for us to finally make it home. Thankfully we were able to get to visit with dad through the window at the nursing home, they unfortunately had a COVID outbreak right before we got there, but they were gracious enough to let us visit that way. It had been far too long since Dad had gotten to see the great grand kids and even some of the grand kids, so he was more than thankful they worked it out. My favorite part was the escape plan the kids had drawn up in case he forgot how to get home. Always a blessing to see their loving spirits! Now with full and sad hearts we are off to go back to the area we call home Arlington, WA
