Learning And Music Take Place in Seattle

Daryl's photo of the Space Needle

 Monday, August 12, 2013 - We took a break from our work today and traveled to Seattle where we spent the morning at the EMP - Experience Music Project.  If you ever get the opportunity to go there, don't pass up this place.  Dom, Pastor John, and Isaac became their own band, "The Woodsies" and rocked out!  Yolanda loved the Fantasy museum and shared with us how fantasy is important in our lives.  (of course this led to discussions of Star Trek etc!)  Daryl especially enjoyed the section entitled, "Women of Rock & Roll," where he discovered the many ways women have contributed to the rock and roll scene throughout the years.  The Nirvana exhibit was also of great interest to a number of us. 

This sculpture of guitars reaches a height of over two stories. 

We had a very rewarding time around the table tonight discussing all our favorite adventures of the day.  Evocative conversations about drug use, music in worship, truth telling, realistic expectations for youth today came about because of our visit to the museum.

After a wonderful lunch at Pier 57, we headed to the Pike Market. Not only did we get to see workers at the fish market literally throwing fish around, we tasted some teas and as we left discovered a little bluegrass band, "The Tall Boys" which includes one girl, playing on the street.  You can see by this photo that Dom is mesmerized by them.  The female singer played guitar, sang AND clogged!  Sometime ask Daryl to play their CD for you!

 
The ride home was again along the majestic mountains and we made a short stop in Roslyn, which happened to be Pastor Bonnie's favorite part of the day. It is a quaint little town, (a bit like Murphys) with a bar, a cafe, a general store, a museum, an old fashioned theater (Yolanda says they give you pillows in the summer and blankets in the winter).  The interesting thing about Roslyn though, and what makes it a tourist town, is that this is the place where the TV show, Northern Exposure was filmed.  Rosemary's Cafe is still there, and you can see in this photo,there is Dr. Joel Fleischman's name.   He was one of the main characters.
 
Pastor Bonnie commented that this show was able to address some sensitive topics in a way that was provocative but not in your face.  She recalled that the marriage of two lesbians in one of the episodes was revolutionary in its day as it was only the second time a major television network to air such a program.  Northern Exposure had a way of inviting you to think about issues without yelling them!

The evening ended with supper in the barn and making plans for tomorrow's return home.  As John and Yolanda headed up the hill to their house among the stars, the boys scattered off to their bunk house with the million dollar view, Daryl took a walk and played Native American Flute among the tall Ponderosa Pines amid the clouds rolling in for the evening and I sat to do my usual writing for the evening. 

It has been an unbelievable journey - far exceeded any expectations I had for a youth trip. We learned so much in such a short time.  Our knowledge of the forest, learning to care for the earth and discovering what it means to live in community with one another are treasures that will be forever written in our hearts.

This morning Daryl and I began by singing the song, "Rejoice in the Lord," and I ended the day with his song, "I lift Up My Eyes to the Mountains."  God has touched me by deepening my love for Yahweh's great creations.  I am striving to listen to the pangs of despair in nature as we humans often  use too many resources, trash the land, allow our greed to feed our habits, and rush around unaware of the gifts that lie right within our rich. 

As I bid you all good night, I want to especially thank First Congregational UCC for supporting our Youth Ministry, Susan Andresen of Normandy Park UCC (for all the food preparation and fabulous meals until she left)and Pastor John and Yolanda for hosting us and teaching us.

I hope when we return, that the inner peace I have gained in this holy experience, will stay with me as we endeavor to share what we have learned with others.  Journey of delight, Pastor Bonnie