You Never Know When the Next One Will Be

Waiting for the Pt. Defiance ferry.

We were fourth in line for the 9:15 ferry, which had a capacity of 64 cars.

The trip was 15 minutes. There were only a few roads on Vashon Island, and it was easy to find our way. We arrived at the outdoor venue an hour early.

Thankfully, the wind and rain subsided, and the ceremony went smoothly.

A toast with an aunt and uncle

The most drawn-out section was the speech by the bride's aunt, who presided over the wedding. No, it wasn't boring, as she related family stories known only to a few.

A cellist provided the music; the baritone vibrato carried surprisingly well over the sylvan setting.

We walked to the reception tents. The buffet selection was Mediterranean, with grilled sausages and chicken to meet the needs of carnivores.

We spoke to individuals we hadn't seen for months (it would have been years were it not for the passing of two relatives in the Bay Area and a birthday celebration in Honolulu).

These life events come in bunches, and you never know when the next one will be.

Good Beginning

A BNSF freight train runs alongside the road to Point Defiance.

Our nephew's wedding was on Vashon Island, which was accessible only by ferry.

Staying in Tacoma rather than Seattle turned out to be a smart decision--there was much less traffic, and there were some fine restaurants to try out. Besides, hotels were $50-$100 a night cheaper.

Friday evening we drove along the Tacoma shore to the Point Defiance ferry terminal as a dry run for the next morning. Stopping at the Lobster Shop, we had a fine dinner of fresh seafood.

After returning to the hotel next to the convention center we crossed the Bridge of Glass, a colorful surprise during an evening stroll. This was a good beginning for a long weekend in Seattle/Tacoma.

Glass sculptures by Dale Chihuly on Tacoma's Bridge of Glass