It was exciting, after making considerable progress on my income taxes, to jump in the car at the last minute and take a road trip to Eastern Washington.
A classmate from high school had invited a group that gets together regularly to lunch at the family wheat ranch near Spokane, Wash.
We had a great time, laughing and sharing stories. We talked about our grandchildren. A few of the women even have great-grandchildren.
It was surprising to see patches of snow that hadn’t melted yet. On April 12!
The weather was nice, nearly 70 degrees.
We stopped in Orondo on the way home to check out the apple ranch along the Columbia River where I grew up. All the trees have been cut down and million-dollar McMansions are popping up. It’s sad to see prime agricultural land disappear and sprawl creep into rural areas.
We also stopped at the cemetery in Wenatchee where my parents are buried to remember them with flowers.
Then back to to Western Washington to take in Seattle’s Green Festival today.
The highlights were organic smoothies and speakers David Korten, Frances Moore Lappe, and Amy Goodman.
More on the festival tomorrow.
