2014-20. A Special Thanks to All Who Were There

    To date, I have logged over 11,000 miles and visited about 30 states and am still  wondering if we went through Delaware. Seeing the US on this counterclockwise journey has been just remarkable. 

Our 2014 Counterclockwise Trip Around the US.

 Part 1: Doug - Visalia (home) to Siesta Key, FL. Part 2: Marilyn & Doug - Siesta Key to Naperville, IL. Part 3: Doug - Naperville to home. 

    My plan is to leave Seattle Sunday, July 6, for what Google says is merely 977 miles to home. I have to remind myself what home looks like, for I left on March 29. 

    This trek, be it the beginning and ending solo runs or the great times when Marilyn was aboard, was brightened by those we encountered: Those who in some instances I had not seen in decades, and in others, those I had only heard of from family members. Please let me attempt to acknowledge them. 

    Though I traveled over 600 miles my first day, I also had the opportunity to share time with others. It began with breakfast with my brother Steve and his lovely bride, Dee, at their place in the Tehachapi Hills, and though a quick visit a lovely one.   

   Aunt Eileen, Cousin Gretchen, Aunt Ruth (Gretchen's mother).

    Then off to El Centro and two of the greatest ladies, Aunt Ruth and her sister, Aunt Eileen. As that was my destination, we talked through dinner, laughed through dessert, and once my cousin Gretchen arrived, began anew. I can only say that I so love these ladies and look forward to my next visit.

    A few days later, I found myself in Tucson, where I had the good fortune to have dinner with my lovely niece Becky and her family, a young lady I had not seen since she was toddling. Yet it was never awkward, for we were soon talking and laughing at family stories, enjoying getting to know her amazing husband, Marcos, enjoying the interaction of her energetic boys, and just getting to know each other. 

    And then there is Marilyn’s amazing family whom I can now put faces to when the stories come up. 

Marilyn's cousin Ann, Aunt Gret, Ann's daughter, Elise, & Marie, Marilyn's cousin Lee's wife, at their home in Winter Haven, FL.

    Her Aunt Gret not only hosted us in Siesta Key, FL, where Marilyn joined me, but later in her home in Swanton, OH.

    We visited and often stayed with Marilyn's cousins. 

Marilyn & her cousin Scott, with whom we stayed, also getting to know his friend Kathy.

Marilyn & her cousin Ann.

    In Portland, CT, we stayed with Marilyn's cousins Ann and husband Pete. Her cousin Jenna and husband Chris and their boys, Marcus and Alex, who live in Wakefield, MA, met us in Lexington, where Chris teaches and Marcus attends school.

Marilyn's cousin Paul & wife, Maideh, who live in Toledo, near Swanton, where Aunt Gret lives.

    We stayed with Marilyn's cousin Tim and wife Jane in Naperville, Illinois, and got to spend time also with their children, spouses, and grandchildren at Jane’s birthday party.

Marilyn's cousin Tim & grandson Henry.

Tim's wife Jane &. grandson Collin.

    They all made our journey so comfortable. Now we hope they’ll all come visit and tour nearby Sequoia, Kings, and Yosemite National Parks with us!
    Another highpoint was our visit in Saratoga Springs, New York with Marilyn’s lovely niece, Clare (named after Marilyn’s dad), her amazing husband, Michael, and their three lovely youngins, 11-year-old Jaden, 4-1/2-year-old Dalila—“Yaya,"and 1-1/2-year-old Fiona Marie Helen—“Fi” (Helen after Marilyn’s mom). Clare is a Staff Sergeant with the Army National Guard and served in Iraq with the regular Army. As they had just moved from Fort Collins, Colorado, we were excited to be the first family from the West to visit. What a great time we had! 

Michael & Clare.

Doug & Jaden.

    They were so happy to have Aunt Moo visit. Dalila remembered her great aunt painting her toenails green like hers two years ago when they were in California for Stephen and Jessie’s wedding (Marilyn’s son and daughter-in-law), and so they had another toenail-painting session, but pink this time. Fi allowed her aunt to get her up from naps and change her diaper, which apparently she doesn’t let just anyone do. 

Pinot & Fi.

    Add then it was Marilyn’s birthday, and a celebration to rival all commenced. Michael, an amazing chef, made a delicious salmon dinner. Clare, with the help of Yaya and Fi, made and decorated the best chocolate cake ever. When it was time for the cake, Jaden, with Dalila’s assistance, went to get Marilyn from the MRV, where she had begun to pack.

Marilyn & Dalila cut Marilyn's birthday cake.

    For me, the crowning achievement was that Michael let me mow his lawn using his riding mower. Having grown up on tractors, I found myself smiling ear to ear as I drove up and down his yard. I know—doesn't take much to impress some of us.  

Doug in heaven on a tractor.

    My son, the Marine. Visiting with Andrew for over a week was wonderful. Seeing his new town, getting to know Devon, the lovely lady in his life, and being allowed to see where he works, not to mention getting a tour of his squadron, made being a dad even "better.”

Doug's son, Andrew, & girlfriend, Devon.

    The Marines, who went out of their way to make me feel included when visiting with Andrew and Devon. Granted they do make me feel ancient, yet being around such a great group of Marines and their families made me so proud: the 1% who are there for us are truly amazing and dedicated individuals.  

    We also crossed paths with friends we had not seen in decades. For Marilyn it was her friend Anne and husband, Michael, in Holland, Maassachusetts. Marilyn and Anne had met in the mid-‘70s in Fresno and had not seen each other since Marilyn’s last visit to Cape Cod in 1991. They picked up where they left off.

Anne & Marilyn.

They also took in the Asparagus Festival in nearby Brimfield.

There aren't many intersections in our neck of the woods like the one in Brimfield with its 1887 fountain.

Anne and Michael welcomed us into their lovely home in the woods for wonderful meals and conversation. Michael also gave us a copy of his book Bodie: The Mines Are Looking Well. 

    Marilyn was unable to see another friend, Jan, whom she had not seen since college. Jan’s husband had been gravely ill and passed away the day before we were to visit. It cast a shadow over our time in Pittsburgh and Marilyn’s old stomping grounds downriver.

    And a few friends whom I had crossed paths with many decades ago. The theme is the same: we had not seen each other in decades, but soon it was as if we last visited a year ago.

    Back in 1969, two 22-year-olds from the small town of Visalia, California, were scheduled to go to flight school on April 1—yes, April Fools' Day—I to the Navy and David to the Army. Almost to the day, 45 years later (it is amazing to see those numbers, am I that old?), I showed up in his driveway in Cary, Mississippi. We did not stop talking, laughing, and bragging about our kids until late at night. It was just a great time.

    In Gainesville, Florida, I spent a day with Bud and Mary. Bud and I went through both jet and helo flight schools together and found ourselves in the same squadron in SE Asia. During a great hike, we soon returned to the comradeship that got us through past situations and caught up on the intervening 35 years. His lovely wife, Mary’s, acceptance and warmth added to a great visit

    Cousin Karen and Jim, who, besides having a real Milwaukee red barn on their property, made my Wisconsin visit so amazing. It was so nice to be with someone who was so important to me when I was growing up, a role model and just a nice person. A day trip to Old World Wisconsin brought the rugged life of the early settlers to life, a day capped by a great sushi dinner. I might add I took many of their mosquitoes with me as I headed north.

Cousin Karen's red barn in Milwaukee.

    Gail, a friend from the San Diego days, and her amazing Canadian husband, Alan, whom I visited a couple times when they lived near Victoria, British Columbia, about 35 years ago (or BC: before children). 

Doug & friends Gail & Alan, Lake Padden, WA.

    It was a wonderful evening of catching up, more bragging about our kids, and an amazing tour of their White Rock, BC, community, 3 km north of the US border. The following morning it was off to their favorite playing ground, Padden Lake, in Bellingham, WA. A nice walk around the lake was followed by a lake swim, which they made look simple and made me realize my need to get back to the gym. 

The "MRV," purchased from our friend JR.

    Then there was JR, the Oak Harbor guitar-strumming, former Naval Aviator who palled around with me when we both thought ourselves to be immortal fledging jet jockeys. The same JR who in February sold me the infamous MRV. We spent a rather grand evening of strumming, stories, and more bragging about our kids, while I enjoyed the view from his Whidbey Island home. 

View from JR's on Whidbey Island.

    The next morning it was time to take a hike on Whidbey Island. Ebeys Landing is a 4-plus-mile hike with vistas across the Straits of Juan de Fuca toward Port Townsend, with the Olympic Peninsula in the background. 

As we walked we got within shouting distance of a bald eagle. 

On the bluff we observed native deer and a few small snakes darting off the trail. 

Once down on the beach, we were overflown by two eagles, or the same one twice—either way it was so impressive. 

    Tim, whose hospitality in Seattle has made my time here even better. We go back to the ‘70s, so many stories. I am indebted and I look forward to some VW treks. And tomorrow I attempt to wax the top of his bus.

Javier, Katie, Doug

    Finally, my lovely daughter Katie and her amazing husband, Javier. They have made my Seattle visit. I had the opportunity to be the entire FAMILY cheering squad when Javier ran his first marathon, such an amazing feat. Think I yelled loud enough that even his parents in Santiago, Chile, could hear me. I am so proud of them and the way they work together.

Javier approaching the finish line of the marathon

    It is not easy having kids on both coasts, yet they are all so accepting and warm to Marilyn and me that it somehow works. Fatherhood is good….

    Another, finally: the lady who put up with constant neck and back pain, who smiled when we hit yet another pot-hole, thank you. Thank you for joining me; for feeling free to fly from Chicago to the Bay Area to enjoy your son’s celebration marking the end of his Residency in Pediatrics; for letting me go explore, whatever that means; for accepting my wandering and suggesting that I stretch the return leg out. It has not been easy for you post-surgery, yet we are still smiling about this trek and thinking about future journeys. 

    The journey has been magical, the experiences and those who were part of it just amazing. Ken Kesey, the leader of the Merry Pranksters of the late ‘60s, is quoted as saying, “You are on the bus or off the bus.” To those who made this journey so exceptional, thank you: You truly were on the bus 

    Stay tuned: still 977 miles to Visalia and the 100-plus-degree temps.                                                                                                      

                                                              —Doug