Missives from the 6th Floor

On Sunday Amy and her sister Beth - whom we'd never met - arrived on the island. They took the nickle tour of the house and we sat on the back deck and chatted for a while before heading to the pub for dinner.

Monday - Alan's birthday - Dawnise spent the morning with Amy and Beth, and picked up her friend Ginger when she arrived in the late afternoon. When we met for dinner again it seemed like Amy had done better that day than I had - I spent the day pretty melancholy, and didn't really laugh 'till we were together at dinner.

I ended up listening to Amos Lee in the morning, and it struck me that it was right up Amy & Alan's collective alley - so I had Dawnise bring my copy and gift it to Amy.

I had asked Amy to keep me in mind when going through Alan's effects - I wanted something I could keep close as a reminder, something that Chris and Kevin passed on.

She presented me with her choices over dinner - a 20 year service watch, a micro toolkit he carried in his wallet and the money clip/pocket knife he carried. It's in my pocket now, and while the story is that Alan flew with it all the time - it's shape making its nature non-obvious to a casual observer - I think it'll stay home when I get on a plane. I have my reminder, and I couldn't have asked for a better.

I plan to take it to a knife shop I was referred to and have them give it some sharpening love - it's a tanto-inspired chisel edge with a serrated section - three factors that each make self-sharpening a bit tricky.

The five of us had dinner Tuesday night at The Four Swallows. Amy & Beth left Bainbridge for a couple days in Seattle on Wednesday, and Dawnise and Ginger caught an ungodly early ferry to start their day "fabric shop hopping." (I dunno man, I didn't do it.)

I ended up cutting out of work early owing to a migraine - and riding home, in the bright afternoon, was less than awesome. Got home, curled up in a dark room, and managed to nap long enough for the migraine to retreat into "just" a headache. The ladies got home around 11 - I heard the garage door open, but couldn't rouse myself enough to do much more than mumble "hello" as Dawnise climbed into bed.

Today the ladies are out and about again, and Amy & Beth are spending their last day in Seattle before heading back to Beth's home in Salem, OR.

Ginger leaves tomorrow, and Saturday we have a party to celebrate some friends we haven't seen in years coming into town from Switzerland.

Like I said - mixed emotion.

I'm really glad Amy made the trip up - spending time with her reminded me how much I miss them both, in different ways.