The Coolest Bathroom and Further Sad Travel Adventures in Everyday Ramblings

Okay so the extravagant adventure in staying in a hotel three blocks from my sister’s apartment on First Hill in Seattle was worth it as you can see by this view of my Sorrento Hotel bathroom.

There are only four of these round windows in the building and they do open. I loved the whole experience. It was so odd to be in a place I had spent time in when I was five that had become family legend. There were vague ghostly memories of that former visit everywhere from the rug in the tiny European sized elevator that has the day of the week on it that they change every night to the signage and Fireside Room.

The staff was attentive but without any hint of attitude on condescension. The desk clerk was lovely and I actually told her about my embarrassment about checking in with a backpack and she said that I would be amazed at what some people check in with, paper and plastic bags… They have a quiet very well equipped but simple fitness room that I worked out in all by myself yesterday morning.

It is a very good thing I did that too because my train trip home took 7 hours.

I was in the first car behind the engine. About a half an hour into our trip we slowed to a stop with the accompanying smell of burning rubber and electrical equipment. It wasn’t jarring, it was smooth but it was intense. Everybody in the full car started remarking on the smell as we though we might have a fire or mechanical failure.

But sadly, although this wasn’t confirmed until later, an elderly man had somehow managed to get beyond all the flashing lights and barricades at a crossing and wandered onto the track. The horrifying thing is that the driver saw him and could do nothing. The train killed the old man. The crew was very professional but it was difficult for everyone on board, all 220 of us. We sat for hours while various investigators did their job.

Then they sent us down the track 17 miles into Tacoma and switched out the engine crew with a new crew that had driven down to take over. They did let folks off the train for about five minutes.

I didn’t even unpack last night I was too tired and sad. I can’t imagine what kind of day that driver is having today. Even if you know there was nothing you could do…

After the tightrope walker and this I am almost afraid to leave again.

The rest of the trip was lovely. My oldest sister wanted the visit to be as normal as possible. She is really pretty coherent. And grumpy about the fact that she is finally feeling better after her medical ordeal and now has to go back to the hospital and start all over again. I kept reminding her that she is now in much better shape but still…

Miss E.’s dance performance was lively and fun. She got to wear a full-length white with blue accented tutu in the traditional ballet piece and fun jazzy clothes in the modern. It was wonderful that my oldest sister was able to go, even though the getting there and back was effortful.

And I got to spend about an hour alone with Miss E. yesterday morning getting lox and bagels and going to their farmer’s market with her. There are flashes of the moody teen she is moving into at 13 and ½ but generally she was her usual sweet gorgeous self.

Sammy was talking trash to me all last night about leaving but I believe we are back to normal today. So even though I really didn’t want to go, I am glad I did and yet am very very happy to be home.