Photoessay #714 - West Seattle

And I didn't bring my camera! I exclaimed that so many times during our trip to West Seattle this afternoon. But pretty easy to pick a stock shot taken from the Admiral Viewpoint. in West Seattle. That's the view, we were just there. Looking across Elliot Bay at downtown Seattle. I don't know the downtown scene well enough to date the picture.

We went to Seattle to see a SIFF film 'Nurse.fighter.boy' at the Admiral Theater. Pretty tough duty buying those movie six packs because you have to go out and see that many movies. Enjoyed it a lot, ok, maybe it resolved a little easily but the cinematography and color stunned us and it was a sweet if sad story.

But, the short walk around the Admiral District held more interest for Dennis and myself. Especially Cousin Alice's house located near the central intersection of California Ave and Admiral Way. Cousin Alice was always the destination for Dennis' family during their summer trips to Seattle. When we first moved up here, I needed a place to stay for a few weeks before we could move up for good. I prevailed on Cousin Alice to let me stay with her in the house she had lived in all of her married life. This was in the late 70s and she was widowed, in her 70s. Cousin Alice had a limited view of the world and she alternately railed about the evil presence of apartments going up in their neighborhood yet would sing the praises of 'income property'. She would say how those builders would like get their hands on her place right on California Ave but no way, she would NEVER allow it.

I knew that the property was developed after her death and that somehow her house was included. Very interesting smaller multi-family developments. It took us awhile to pick out the remains of her house. The address 2110 rang a bell and I could pick out the roof line of the second story. Dennis insisted that he recognized some trees. But what of the huge gorgeous Queen Anne Rhodedendrons bushes that flanked her doorway. Gone. But the people in the front unit included the original house have made a beautiful rock garden in front.

We couldn't really pick out any businesses that we remembered. There had been a pharmacy on the corner with a big neon sign "DRUGS". Later it became a carpet store. No problem, the new owners just lopped off the D so that the neon now read "RUGS" The little antique/junk store was still there; though it looked like the owner was closing (caught a glimpse of the guy, had to be the original).

Wished so much I had my camera!! Prom pictures still to come. We are meeting our friend at the noodle house. Naomi's group is dead broke so we agreed to spring for a pizza.