Istzarama and me barmates - here's the first installment:
SEATTLE
I looked out the window and saw Mt. Ranier to the South as we gently banked into a right turn towards Seattle Tacoma Airport. As we lost altitude and began our approach, you could see how green and lush everything was – it was an absolutely beautiful sunny day. As we came closer to the end of the runway, we flew directly over four guys teeing off on a golf course – what a place for a course! The pilot made a perfect landing and I began thinking that I would be seeing people whom I had known for 6-7 years, but had never seen except for Polvy and Katheen – it was a great feeling of anticipation.
When I cleared the plane, I was walking down the long corridor rimmed by gate areas thinking that I hadn’t been to Seattle in almost 10 years. I flipped open my cell and hit “Polvito” on the contact list. I figured I might as well get things going so when someone answered I said “Phuck you, you phucking guy! – is Abtar there?…this is Kerpal!” It might have been funny had Kathleen not answered Dusty’s cell phone. After a short amount of confusion, she figured out it was me – they were heading to the airport and would pick me up….how cool was that. By the time I took the train and made it out to the baggage claim and then the road…there they were! Wharfy and I shook hands as he jumped out of the car and to take my bag, and I gave Rose a kiss…..it really was as if we’d known one another for a long time – everyone looked as they were supposed to look. I jumped in the back seat with Rose and Rat with Kathleen and Polvy in the front. It was such a great feeling finally seeing everyone.
We drove north to Seattle – Polvy took more of a pilot’s approach to directions – noticing that the sun was to our west and the Space Needle was to our north. The view was spectacular – a beautiful lake to the west and snow capped mountains beyond them. After some instructions from Kath, Polvy made a few turns to head us towards our floating house. Down this San Francisco grade steep hill we went and banged a left on Fairview. First, we needed supplies, so we went to Pete’s Grocery Store – Pete’s is unique….tiny neighborhood store…three rows of beer, wine and booze, and two rows of food. We all loaded up what needed – many different wines, beers, chips, dips,cheeses and oh, some breakfast stuff. At that point we looked like a bunch of migrating Oakies with baggage and food all piled into the wagon along with ourselves.
Back down Fairview to our floating house. The first thing we see in the lot is a fallen pine with a note on it. Evidently, a beaver had cut it down and the note said “please leave the tree, the beaver may return to retrieve other parts of it for his home” well……in the words of Dana Carvey…”isn’t that special”. We all made a few choice comments on a note we might leave, but decided against it.
The floating houses are arrayed on each side of a narrow dock –our house was at the end of the dock. Each house was very different from the others with all kinds of whimsical designs. Our house had a high ceilinged living room with a deck and floating dock out a sliding glass door. There was a bedroom and bath off the kitchen. Upstairs, there were 2 ½ bedroom. We looked across a channel to other floating houses and also out to the lake. Boats would slowly motor by, checking out all the houses and then return back to the lake – everyone, like in a lot of boating communities/harbors, always waived and smiled.
After we got settled, we broke out the beer, chips and dips and began talking about everything under the sun – there was a wonderful rich feeling of being among really good friends. We talked a lot about people that weren’t there that we knew on the board – clappy, S2, Scouser, Sioux, jpg, Croc, cresign, t-sider dealer, she-x and others I have forgotten - the interesting thing was we all began to trace the routes of how we came here – Yalhoo, CPX, Voltaire’s Porch. It was an important conversation for the simply reason we knew that this event was bigger than all of us and involved a lot of people that we know and care about – we just happened to be here in person while our absent friends were here in spirit. Speaking of spirits, we all marveled at Wharfy’s Pinot Noir that he wrapped in tin foil and placed in his bag (he lucked out that it wasn’t a carry on) – it had the outline of an RPG…if that didn’t top all, he also had a jelly jar full of his home grown personal blend that he smoke in his corn cob pipe along with the tobacco.
Out on the deck in the brilliantly clear sunshine, we got a call from Mannie – he was on his way over and was going to join us for a few beers and dinner. Nothing nicer that sitting on the floating dock watch the sailboats and rowing shells on the lake. Before we knew it, Mannie was here!. Again, it felt like we had known him for years. Somehow he had eluded Yen, who was busy working out the spreadsheet for the big Sunday night gig. It had taken a ton of work on both their parts to get ready for the event. Mannie speaks very modestly about the success of CTH – almost as if he’s surprised by the success – when speaking of CTH, we never heard him use the word “I” – he’s the real deal. We headed out for dinner at a restaurant that was close-by (can’t remember the name). We sat at a large round table overlooking the lake and the setting sun. Laughter, stories, more laughter filled the restaurant – again, we felt the presence of all our barmates at the table. After the dinner, Mannie, after a quick tour of his Ducati for the boys (we were all salivating over it) – Rose thought it was “cute”…Mannie zipped up his leather jacket, strapped on the helmet and drove into the night.
At that point, we went back into the floating house. Rhoze, true to her word had brought Polvy a pony, and me some caviar, mayo, peanut butter and wonderbread (long story). Wharfy has brought his special Pinot Noir. I had brought her a CD of a jazz service our choral group did. These guys are true to their word and show up! We then started planning the next day’s events – the neat thing was that nobody imposed there will on anyone else – we decided on three venues – the Open Market, the Space Needle, and the Rock and Rock Museum.
My east coast body clock informed me that I was approaching toast, so I bailed out and went to bed.
Next episode – The Market, The Space Needle, The Rock and Roll Museum and the CTH Celebration!!!! |
