Parenting This Slow Motion Shipwreck

Plus: How to get a handwritten postcard from me!

Hi, it’s me.

When the kids were little, Bryan and I looked for ways to create mini-adventures (or Zugventures, as we like to call it!) that kept life exciting within a budget. Here in the Seattle area, free or cheap activities are in abundance! We have plenty of parks, wildlife preserves, botanical gardens, beaches, interesting neighborhoods, the waterfront, and a plethora of tourist attractions.

On one such Zugventure when the kids were two and four years old, we drove into Seattle from our suburban home to ride the ferry from Seattle to Bainbridge Island and back again as walk-on passengers. The ride is about 30 minutes each way.

I mean, just getting to the ferry from where we parked was a Zugventure! We saw a parade of naked bicycle riders, and Thomas attempted to steal an apple out of the hand of a homeless man who was panhandling on the street corner.

“I WANT A APPOW!” he screamed as I dragged him away. “I HUNGWEE!”

Thomas still had his eye on that apple, right before the naked cyclists whizzed by in front of us (August 2007).

Riding the ferry is a great way to wear a kid out if you’re willing to endure judgmental stares from other passengers as your kids run from end to end through the cabin. I mean, the whole thing is basically a giant playpen as long as they don’t fall down the stairs or fling themselves over the railing.

Crossing over, we got to see big cargo ships, sailboats, seals, and seagulls that flew alongside us like we were in some kind of Disney movie. And my god… the smell of the salty sea air and view of Seattle’s skyline is *chef’s kiss.*

But the climax of this particular August afternoon came as we approached the Bainbridge Island ferry dock. We stood at the railing in a crowd of passengers, watching the water churn below as the boat eased into the slip.

“Oh no!” I said. “We’re going to crash!”

Several heads turned. There was gasping.

But I know my children—even if we’d only been acquainted for a few years—and I smiled smugly as they jumped up and down with delight, screaming, “CRASH! CRASH! CRASH!” and giggling maniacally as our boat met the dock with a slight bump (that’s what she said).

And now you know where my kids get their dark humor from.

Hope all is well where you are. Have you ever ridden a ferry? After more than 30 years in Seattle, I still find them magical.

Until next time,

Jen

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How to get a handwritten postcard from me!

As it so happens, on the evening this is published I’ll be on a ferry to Orcas Island in the San Juans for a writing retreat in the woods, where I’ll learn from and be inspired by intimate workshops on poetry, song writing, fiction writing, and memoir.

Those of you who are paid subscribers helped make this experience possible. Your subscription dollars went straight into my savings account throughout the year, and I put the funds toward my retreat registration fee and travel expenses.

Thank you!

Postcards I mailed from Lopez Island, also in the San Juans (July 2019).

In appreciation of your support, I’ll be sending each of you a handwritten postcard from Orcas Island. Be on the lookout for a separate email about this if I don’t already have your mailing address.

If you’re currently a free subscriber (thanks for reading!) and would like a postcard, upgrade your subscription to paid by end of day Friday, April 4th, and I’ll send you one! Simply reply to my paid subscriber confirmation email with your address.