A Proud Tradition, 2 Years in the Making…les grandes vacances aux Etats-Unis
Having mastered “the art of Paris summer life” as described in-depth with the previous two entries of le blog, there was only one major item left – and it was a biggie. You see, in the good ol’ USA, there are a few things that I can think of which the vast majority of citizens would consider “God-given rights” – freedom, the right to vote, pursuit of happiness, privacy, fair trial…you know, the biggies. Some may even want to stretch their rights a bit further to include “the right to bear arms” and such things that may be a little more controversial. In France, people stretch their set of “God-given rights” to include a pretty basic human need: “not working during the month of August.” This has turned into a well-known, well-celebrated tradition referred to as…les grandes vacances.
For the second year in a row, Shannon and I chose to spend our grandes vacances very differently than most of our neighbors. First and foremost, the choice of me to work half of mine instead of taking every single day…put me even more firmly in the “lunatic American” status. More importantly, the choice of spending our time off in a place known around here as “Etats-Unis” (let’s call “home” a rough translation) was controversial because a) it’s not the south of France and b) in a time of year when all of the US is willing to pay $2k to visit Europe for a single plane flight, it just feels a little strange to be going the opposite way.
Therefore, the rest of this month’s version of le blog is fully dedicated to one country – and even better, one coast (that is WEST for those of you that had any question). It should provide some explanation for why…when we are back home, we are running around like chickens with our heads cut off…a pathetic attempt to pack a whole Seattle-based year into four short weeks. And speaking of the West Coast, do we really need to provide any more justification than those two words alone? Is there anyone who is willing to question the scenic powerhouse that is Washington, Oregon, and California combined? If you are, here is a small preview….
“Sunset over the Sierras” – Shaver Lake, California
“Another Banner Day at the Lake” – Lake Chelan, Eastern Washington
“View over the Dunes” – Klipsan Beach, Southwest Washington
As you can see, the scenery alone could have been a reason to rent a Winnebago and travel around the majestic natural beauty of the West. But no surprise…we did not rent an RV….and another surprise, there was so much more than nature waiting for us upon arrival in Seattle….
Because How Could We Miss…Timeless Events Like This
It’s okay to miss a few milestone events here and there in life. A cousin’s best-friend’s baptism…a co-workers 4th marriage…a graduation of auntie Mildred’s favorite waiter from the retirement home…you know, things that, while important, aren’t going to eat away at your conscience for the rest of your life.
To be clear – Ty Pendergraft’s 30th Birthday does not fall into this category. I don’t care if his whole extended family is already going to be there. I don’t care if it happens to be 5 months prior to his actual birthday….when it’s time to celebrate the legend known as Pender, it’s time to celebrate! And so Shannon and I, alongside master coordinator Haley and several other crouching guests…hid behind small shrubs as he strolled up to his local golf course to find a combination surprise birthday celebration / golf tournament in his honor! Vive le Pender Open!
This lady Haley – there is no end to her coordination and event perfection. As if she wasn’t already in the middle of launching the next innovative product that will change the face of party celebrations going forward…now available to the world for online ordering at www.shoppartyart.com (any good RC reader will be checking this out). But yes, as if she wasn’t running a rapidly growing enterprise, still amazingly pulled off this event! Cheers to Haley (yes, that is former RC star and son Luke on her hip)!
Now I can’t speak for the man of the hour, but I think he was relatively pleased with his selection of golfing partners for the day….
This “gag” of Pender-faces for each party guest asks an important philosophical question – when Ty’s mother puts on a face that looks just like him….who is more confused – Ty, or his son?
Occasionally I took a break from the bounce-house (partially obstructed in rear) to spend some time with the hostess, among other special guests…
Holding a frosty mug of Widmer Brother’s Hefeweizen, while two beautiful ladies bring him a life-size cake. But by the look on his face, perhaps Pender’s 30th Birthday wish has already come true!
Shaking Hands and Kissing Babies…Literally But back to the general trend I was noticing…the rule I observed went a little something like this, resembling a mathematical IF / THEN statement: But why talk theory when I could show you the mug shots – It was time to see some of these bundles of joy in person! First stop, a ladies reunion of Alison with newborn Stella, and Rachel with little-man Brandon….I call the title of this particular photo “No pressure Shannon!”….
When having dinner with Tony and Lisa Sekora (and not pictured Maria and John Scheleen), we were not only able to see their new home….
But their newest addition to the family, Sam Sekora! Here we find Audrey learning quickly to be a caring big sis’… And speaking of big sisters named Audrey, Brian and Kori Kickbush’s young lady was getting adjusted to life with brand new little sis, Taylor…
But then when we spent a night in the Magnolia hood with Courtney and Mike Williams, we realized that “the formula” didn’t apply to everyone….
Because 3 babies before still equaled 3 babies now – Raleigh, Adelaide, and Chandler Williams!
And while the Penders have a gorgeous new home to settle-in and adjust to, one thing remains the same….
And that is prince Luke remains at the head of the table!
Life Without Babies? Well – to answer that we first turn to the Tottens (if you don’t know these two, are you new to le blog?) While they don’t have a “baby” per se using the traditional biological definition, one might easily count their new house and full-scale remodel project pretty darn close. Which neighborhood? I’m just drawing a blank right now for some reason….but you can tell by their faces that it is absolutely fantastic…
Part of any new-home buying experience is doing some local reconnaissance on the nearby acceptable restaurants. This is a place where we love to help shoulder the burden of this arduous task. The verdict on How to Cook a Wolf on top of Queen Anne? More than acceptable
I think it’s a fair statement to claim that friend’s Jason and Siri have managed to keep their hands full (and dirty) as well – running an amazing farm outside of Seattle call Local Roots, which is at the cutting edge of the organic local movement. Here they are at the location of their pride and joy…
Getting a tour of the guts of Local Roots Farm HQ….
Not only did Jason and Siri let us tour their digs, and sample veggies directly from the ground…
but they also served us up a tasty “farm dinner” right on location, with ingredients that (as you can imagine), could not have been more fresh…
All fit for a crew that (as you can imagine), could not been more rowdy…The good news of course about disturbing neighbors in Carnation, Washington….is that there is no neighbors.
So what else are the no-babies contingency doing with their free time? Perhaps discovering new favorite meeting spots in Seattle, such as this new Phinney Ridge hotspot Oliver’s Twist…
Or better yet, making good use of favorite spots that were established long, long ago…The kind of place where you can walk in with a green vest and slacks, and still you’ll be greeted with a smile. Thank you for another set of memories Prost!
Traditions New and Old: “les petites vacances” You see, we didn’t exactly go “French Style” for les grandes vacances this year, because frankly it doesn’t fit the needs of people wanting to pack more in. The whole “pick a spot and spend three weeks there” approach sounds great for many people (and all people in France), but anyone that has even a 10th of my ADD would understand that it is an approach that is a bit…restrictive. It also wouldn’t have allowed us to take advantage of multiple rich traditions, both North and South, Johnson and Bettesworth…new and old. We therefore swapped out the concept of les grandes vacances for 3 much smaller, yet power-packed petites vacances…all very different…but all special in their own way. Alas – American grandeur is among us… #1 – Chelan 2008 – The Whole Point is FUN!
Our trusty condo (on the upper floor for the first time) gave us a really clear…obstructed view of the lake…
Which did not appear to hinder group morale, especially during Enchilada night! And speaking of the crew, you should all be familiar with the Tottens on the right (if your question is “Did you really spend 98% of you vacation allocation with the Tottens this year? The answer is a definitive “yes”. If your question is “Don’t you guys get sick of each other?” the answer is a little more complicated. Our wives really do get sick of us, yes…They actually get a little worn out on the matching outfits and bursts of phrases like “HARD CORE!!” all the time. But other than that minor detail, the answer is “no”). Now allow me to introduce the couple in the middle – Karen and Ernie. These Seattle-residents not only had a passion for Lake Chelan (mandatory requirement #1), but they also love good food (mandatory requirement #2). Just look at the “shock and awe” on Ernie’s face as he grapples with the first meal of the week….
But every couple attending Chelan must be subjected to a rigorous set of initiation activities – such as being forced to survive the game of “hearts” while eating shortcake after dinner. In actuality, a good eye and an attention to the detail of this picture will show that it appears that I am the one being initiated after round #1 scoring in the game. With 14 points it means someone had already handed me the delightful Queen of Spades as a early gift…Karen and Ernie truly were quick learners….
So what does a typical day look like at Chelan? It’s all pretty simple, but quite effective. 9am: A fire-filled wake-up! No tradition at Chelan is more well-preserved than my special recipe “hot-damn!” spicy breakfast burritos (it is, afterall, my one culinary contribution to this world). For Totten and I, starting our days with a runny nose and a burning throat is just a natural expectation…
10am: Lake Chelan is not just for looking at. It’s for getting in! Here we find Totts about to receive the wrath of my patented “Circling S-curve” that will make holding on to the Tube slightly more challenging than expected. He’s giving me the official Chelan “ready sign” that tells me he is up for the challenge…
11am: Friendly doubles riding and tour of the waterfront houses. This is sadly, usually restricted to the gentleman as the ladies tend to be a bit uncomfortable with the gentlemen’s boat-driving capabilities (despite my reminder that I did successfully pass Motor Boating Merit Badge as a young Boy Scout)…
Noon – 5pm: Pool time, including synchronized diving efforts that are completely disregarded by some…. 6pm: As introduced during last year’s August 2007 blog, Happy Hour at the floating pirate bar The Twisted Pearl is absolutely mandatory part of a successful day at the Point. This type of innovation in community gathering spots is exactly what good vacation spots need to keep the crowds coming. This year, the commute to “the Pearl” was made much more convenient (well, depending how you look at it), as it was anchored about 400M off-shore of Wapato point, enabling a strenuous, but possible “swim-in” option. What about the logistics of payment, you ask? The great news is that owner Jared and his accommodating staff are happy to take wet $20 bills… 6:30pm: What could I possibly mean by community bonding? Well, take for example, the spontaneous team-building activities that are created among complete strangers, all hosted by this unique and collaborative environment. This particular example of standard game of 5 vs. 5 happy hour “flip cup” – enjoyed across generations. A special “twist” (no pun intended) to the rules – when played under the shadows of a pirate flag, losers are required to “WALK THE PLANK!”… 8pm: After a long-swim back, all involved are ready for the culinary epi-center of our Chelan day…which involves gourmet masterpieces prepared on a nightly rotation schedule by three of our finest chefs (recall, I am breakfast duty only – I would never claim any credit to these scrumptious meals. I will claim credit to devouring them). Sometimes Totts lacks the ability to hold himself back as we capture the pre-“DIG-IN” moment…
11pm – ??: The after-dinner hoopla can vary in form and practice, but generally involves high-noise levels from myself and Totten, and a lot of eye-rolling from our wives. An example of such timeframe will serve as this month’s integrated video experience – a post-dinner dance inspired by Shawn Johnson and Nastia Lukin’s performances at the Beijing 2008 Women’s All-Around preliminaries….Vive Chelan, we’ll see you next year!! #2 – Shaver 2008 – The Whole Point is…the JOHNSON FAMILY! Shaver Lake was especially exciting exploratory grounds for our growing pack of nieces and nephews, who were all present and accounted for. Here we find niece Wynne exploring the bluffs of the Sierras with her dad and uncle Lars….
And moments later….exploring the sandy shores of the nearby lakes!
Erika and Rich took Sidney (6) and Karsten (3) for a spin in the lake donut-shaped spinners….
While Bjorn protected his newest little one Paige Susannah (3 months) from the sun. Here we find Paige objecting to the fact that her older sister gets to play in the water, and she has to hang out with Dad and Uncle away from the action….
There were more serious components of the reunion trip as well, such as grueling, technical hikes through the Sierra National Forest…
Their faces may not show it, but Shannon and Krysia are experiencing heavy fatigue from the last mile….
As for Bjorn, here he is looking to his companion Paige for inspiration to carry on…
Sid found demonstrating how to fall a timber that is greater than her own wingspan…
But the rewards at the top were plenty for our collective perseverance – namely, unparalleled mountain views..
And perhaps more importantly, beef jerky, trail mix, and Capri Sun fruit juice!
When not in the great outdoors, the main living area couch served as a focal point of family life. For the ladies, bonding time and family hugs..
For the gentlemen, we focused on the importance of teaching our young ones to resist the evil Apple empire, and how to seamlessly embrace Microsoft technology. Here we find Karsten with an XBOX controller…lesson learned.
The OC Johnson young ladies give extra big smiles as we root Team USA on in the Olympics…(for Paige, it was more passive rooting)…
Getting everyone to look at the camera at the same time….not possible. Getting all Johnson siblings in the same location for a weekend: Priceless! Thank you George family for your generosity, and Vive Shaver Lake!
#3 – Klipsan Beach 2008 – The Whole Point is…the BETTESWORTH FAMILY! Family time, across 3 generations:
After this visit, I can now confirm eye-witness reports of a major trend sweeping young Seattle families…babies. Lots of them. It’s kind of like rain and Seattle…it happens a lot, and there can be…wetness…
-If 0 babies before, then 1 baby now
-If 1 baby before, then 2 babies now
-If 0 babies now, then lots of questions on when 1 baby
-If 1 baby now, then lots of questions on when 2 babies
In our visits we did come across a few pockets of NBNKs (No Babies, No Kids)…a dying breed surely, but a resilient and strikingly festive crowd as well. The question remains, though…(no, not the when question)…the question is – what are these people doing with all of that spare time one their hands?
So what about all of that West Coast scenery? Trust me, we’re getting there people. With my endless rambling, no one on earth has patience like a loyal RC reader….I do appreciate this, especially as I take the time to set some context for the next three mini-segments.
Now a tradition in its 4th year, we once again headed east of the cascade mountains for reliable sunshine, and even more reliable fun to Wapato Point at Lake Chelan. After all, how could anyone argue with this approach, when clearly, at Wapato, “THE WHOLE POINT IS FUN!!”……
The second, and newest tradition was a coming together of all Johnson Siblings from across thousands of miles to a “midpoint” location tucked high in the Sierra Mountains (one hour outside of Fresno, CA), at a getaway called Shaver Lake. This spot has been a family tradition for Erika’s in-laws (the broader George family) for many years – and seeing as there was some room to spare at the cabin, Wendy and Keith George were kind enough to host us there for a long weekend!
Perhaps the most consistently celebrated tradition of all (+20 years and still going), the following picture of the Klipsan Beach Cottages in August in similar to ones that you have seen before, and yes, one that you will likely see again. It is highly-anticipated annual family Bettesworth ritual, and for a good reason. The core tenets of natural beauty, good food, family time, and of course, the family Christmas picture – are all embraced in one week of pure relaxation. For me this year, the week was particularly short – but for Shannon and the family – rest assured that all core tenets were preserved. Beauty:
