Jane's current job as a Navy physician involves overseeing numerous smaller ships and their medical departments. Any ship too small to support a full-time medical physician on board uses the skills of various IDC's (or, Independent Duty Corpsmen). Jane's job is to communicate with the IDC's, offer medical advice, check records, and periodically visit ships (and reprimand those IDC's consistently screwing up patient care, which happens more often than one would hope). She made a request to take on an additional duty of visiting ships in Seattle every few months, a trip paid for by the Navy (ok, the U.S. taxpayer), and one that allows her to visit family and friends when possible.
She left this morning for the second of these three-day trips up the coast, leaving me behind to fuss over exams and term papers during finals week like the good student I am. I'm jealous of the good Pacific Northwest food and micro brews and roasted coffee she'll be able to sample up north, and the possibilities of exploring the many excellent bookstores Seattle supports, like the wonderful Elliot Bay Book Company and my favorite anarchist bookstore, Left Bank Books, mere steps from the Pike Place Market (although I doubt she'll have much time for pleasure) . She also got to pack a winter coat, hat and scarf, as I hear it's winter outside of Southern California (we're supposed to brush 70 degrees later this afternoon).
Jane remarked as we drove to the airport this morning that we had less than two years left in San Diego, and wondered how I felt about that. As always, I feel conflicted. It's hard not to enjoy the perennial sunshine and mild air of the southern coastline. Yet the fog and chill of the northwest is equally appealing. Someday soon, we'll be packing up and leaving San Diego, heading to places unknown - Portland? Seattle? Santa Cruz? Someplace cooler and wetter, no doubt. But it's getting harder and harder to think about leaving the West Coast - despite my deep Midwestern roots and my nostalgia for New England, this place has a way of getting under the skin.
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5 weeks ago
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The weather at Deception Point was chilly and very fall-like. Then I turned off the highway later tonight into a brightly lit beautiful city (Seattle). Fourth street is decked out for the holidays and there was a GIANT star, about 6 stories tall, on the Macys, beconing you into the city. It's cold and a little wet, and couldn't be more beautiful! Wish you were here!
oh nice to hear it is getting under your skin jason! but yes, at times like this, i miss seattle and all its charm too.
Yes, I can almost smell the pine needles and the good Seattle coffee.
ms
I've been feeling the same way, lately. Now that leaving San Diego has come sooner rather than later, I am almost sad. I want us to take advantage of everything it has to offer before we leave.
Jessica -
Indeed. We'll have to make sure we focus on getting together and exploring new and familiar areas before we're all scattered. One of the really odd things is the transitory nature of San Diego residents. I can think of at least five friends who'll be leaving the area within the next year.
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