[Keoma]

This past week found me in my home state with my family. It was a vacation long over due...arent they all?
We went to Washington State and to the places where I lived. We started out in Eastern WA, going to Cle Elum and Roslyn. Anyone familiar with the show Northern Exposure? Well that town is not Cicely Al;aska, but Roslyn WA, and where I spent the happiest years of my childhood. Taking my family there was the most surreal and wonderful expirience of my life.
I cried as soon as we hit the edge of town and I could not stop. Every house, every street, every cracked sidewalk...every everything touched my heart like I can't even tell you. I am so grateful that the town is now considered a Historical Site and it is being preserved...Thank Gawd for small favors,eh?
My parents were extreme alcoholics and fought it seemed constantly, but here I was happy. Here it did not seem so bad...maybe because I was young? Who knows the perspective I had then, but this trip actually made me feel that way again. How crazy is that? I stood in the center of the park I used to play in adn let my kids play in the Gazebo that my Dad built...it was still there. The town is the definition of sleepy little town and as I stood there, the sounds of so0me kids playing with their folks in the baseball diamond, some dog barking a long distance off and the wind...omg the wind. The sound is something that I not only hear in my head, but is always in my heart. Evergreens, Fir, Cedar, Pine...all of them...wind sings through the branches and needles. If you have ever heard it, you know what I mean.
I stood there with my eyes closed and wished I could paint-how I would like to paint a woman standing in a field with all of this flowing in and out of her...but alas...I cannot paint. But the vision is in my head still.
Just thought I would share Thanx for listening
*One of the coolest parts about this excursion was the wood I brought back from my Grandma's and Great Grandma's homes. Can't wait to carve a spoon out of the knots! Making My Grandma's spaghetti sauce with that spoon will be one of my favorite things for years!*

[AlArchie]

Sounds like you recieved the renewal you needed! Quite often a trip back through time and to our roots is necessary, just to get a handle on who we are and where we come from. I fully understand your feelings and am so glad to hear that you landed on this refreshing note. Not all returns are so positiove, but when they are the experience can be overwhelming.

You were extremely fortunate in that the old home town hasn't changed much. Mine has, but still, return trips are rejuvenating.

Al

[sharon cottrell]

Loved Northern Exposure!Great quirky show.What a neat place to live.Looked great anyway from the show.Now you have some really good memories(hopefully)with your own family.Finding wood, rocks etc. is always fun, and a treasure especially when it's from a real special place like grandma's place.Someday you will probably find a way to create the woman in the field, maybe even paint her.You just don't know what you'll achieve in the future.But thats what makes life fun and interesting.Maybe one of your kids will do it.I bet the spaghetti sauce will be extra yummy!

[Keoma]

This is a shot of down town Roslyn...lol...er Pennsylvania Ave.

[squbrigg]

Sounds like you had a great relaxing trip Keoma, and taking the family down memory lane too! I'm glad it worked out well for you, we all need to recharge our life's batteries , once in a while. Nice quiet looking community, small town US of A!

Bob

[stickman]

OMG northern exposure was my favorite!
Its so cool your from the town that it was filmed in .and the picture you posted is just how I remember it from the show.It must of been a roller coaster of emotions for you .Good for you for taking your family and showing them they will remember that trip the rest of there lives.Always nice to give life long memories to your family.

[Mischief]

So...there is where you have been. Haven't seen you on the forum lately and was wondering what happened. Beautiful town!! I can just imagine sitting outside those shop and watching life and breathing. Imagine its the kind of place where you take daily walks into the Village for coffee and latest news and can sit on a park bench and whittle away!

[torpidhummer]

Keoma it's good knowing your are back, I was starting wonder where you had been. However I'm glad you are ok and returned to your starting point in life.Great little town,actually my kind of town,when we went through the area, I tried to get my wife to make the town our retirement headquaters but she is a city gal (but the mind of a good stuborn smalltown gal),don't you go and tell I said that.
A Big Semper Fi to you.
Oscar