Riley's First Trip to the Great Northwest
Riley's first trip to the Northwest... where do I begin. I guess to start I have to say that she is quite the trooper when it comes to flying. Charley and I were beyond nervous before this trip. She hates the car, hates being bored, and definitely vocalizes it when she is tired, frustrated or in need of entertainment. The thought of being stuck on a 6 and a half hour flight seemed like a nightmare. Although the trip was very long and turbulent, and Riley didn't sleep more than 30 minutes, it went very well. The hardest part was figuring out how to keep her occupied, but security and the flight itself went fairly seamlessly. Charley has flown a ton and he is very seasoned when it comes to being an efficient traveler... I don't know what I'm going to do without him on my next trip.
When we finally got to Seattle and began our car trip up to my parents' house on Camano Island, I found myself hit with some very intense and unexpected emotions. Bringing Riley to the place where I grew up made everything feel very real and brought on a wave of nostalgia. Charley and I have begun to build our lives in Boston with Riley and I can't imagine us there without her. But having her in Seattle felt different - this place is such a big part of me, but it is not where she is from. She is from Boston. It made me realize that Seattle is a very big part of who I am, and I was so excited and touched to share that with my daughter for the first time. I can't wait for her to spend summer days wearing saltwater sandals on the beach, turning over rocks and walking on the driftwood. Maybe she will even get to pick some blackberries and make a pie. Who knows if she will even want to do that (she has a very big mind of her own after all), but a mom can dream, right?
While we were there it seemed like my parents' house was a revolving door of friends and family coming to meet Riley. I just feel so fortunate to have had this chance to introduce her to so many people who are important in our lives. I loved seeing my cousins hold her and see the resemblances in their faces... And it was really funny to see the shift in the Fay family dynamic now that there is a fresh new face to stare at!
Charley and I went into this trip hoping to catch up on some sleep, but Riley wasn't having it. I'm not sure if it was the time difference or the excitement, but that girl did NOT want to sleep. We did get in a BIG dose of fresh air and sunshine (surprisingly!) which was much needed.
I couldn't have asked for a better trip - I can't wait to go back.
Unfortunately, we arrived home to a deeply sad situation. As soon as we touched ground we watched as everyone on the place around us checked their phones and received information about the Boston Marathon bombings. The next hour was a bit of a blur as we began to piece together the tragic events of that day. The city is not the same - the sound of sirens and helicopters is constant, and the streets are filled with barricades, police, news trucks and military personnel.
We are feeling very saddened and thankful for our safety right now. We hugged Riley extra tight that night. This is a beautiful and strong city, and I have faith that Bostonians will pull together and get through this.
