Portland, OR/ Ketchikan, AK - Day 3

 

Beautiful little Ketchikan

We got up early and met our friends in the hotel restaurant for breakfast before catching the 8:15 ferry to the airport.  We gathered around the table for coffee, and discussed last night’s party, and then we started sharing pet stories.  We adore our pets and poor Chad was so disgusted with us all.  After we ate, the guys went out to load luggage, and warm up the trucks.  I stayed in the lobby and admired the remarkable collection of Aleut Baskets that were on display.  I think if I possessed any crafting talent, I would want to be a basket weaver.  But until I learn how to weave my own baskets, I’ll just keep using my Tupperware from Costco.

Stunning works of art

At the airport, before boarding the plane, I met the pilot.  We had a few minutes to chat, and in those minutes I found out that he's been a pilot for 48 years.  He just started his tenth year flying for NetJets, and he’s lived in Salt Lake City since the early 1950s.  After our conversation, I started thinking about one of my favorite childhood books, Hatchet.  It’s the story of a boy named Brian who takes a Cessna to visit his father in the Canadian oilfields.  On the way, the pilot has a heart attack and dies, and Brian has to land the plane and consequently try to survive in a wilderness setting that resembles Ketchikan.  Considering our pilot's age, I began to worry that he, too, was going to have a heart attack and die, and we were going to find ourselves in Hatchet-like circumstances.  Chad calmly reminded me that even if our pilot dies, Jerome, the young handsome Frenchmen would be able to fly the plane.  Having been reassured, I went into the bathroom and collected more mouthwash, lotion, and sewing kits.  One can never have too many.

The flight was a lot of a lot of fun; we all really enjoyed each other’s company, and made the most of our last two hours together.  Chad and Bo really bonded, and at times, I was concerned they were falling in love.  It turns out they’re both just really passionate about their company and about their shipyard families.

"I may be available this Saturday..."

Once we landed in Portland and collected our bags, the pilots reminded us that we had a catered lunch on board.  We told them we’d take it with us, so they brought it out on a luggage cart.  We were all sort of embarrassed at the massive amount of food for the six of us.  

Um...

Frank and Brenda said goodbye, and the rest of us went into the airport lobby so we could sit for a while, wrap our minds around the weekend, and focus on getting back to real life.  We all were ready to get home to our kids, so we hugged and commented that we should see each other more often, and away we drove.

The lobby of the airport

Winding down

On the drive back to Olympia, Chad taught me everything I could possibly ever know about ships, propellers, cavitation, kort nozzles, and other things that I've failed to learn in the 17 years we've been married.  Two hours is not nearly enough time to discuss such marvels, and before we knew it, we were at Leah’s.

We hugged our kids, and then enjoyed an unbelievable feast.  We listened to their stories of ice skating on the frozen water down in the blueberry field; how Leah pulled them on sleds behind the quad and nearly sucked Ashley under the tires, but Ashley jumped off just in time.  Stories that make me nervous to leave my sister alone with my children—yet so grateful for the adventures and fun-filled days on the farm she provides for them.  We watched the Seahawks lose to the 49ers and then we packed up and came home.

Tomorrow we return to work, to school, and to days filled with activities and appointments.  I will go back to chauffeuring my kids, and taking care of my husband.  And as cool and unreal as this weekend was, we will settle right in to our amazing boring life in Olympia. 

-The Niemeyers