We decided to take a day off of farming and working and do some things I had been wanting to for a while.  The first thing was we visited Oso.  I had not wanted to go there while the rescue and reconstruction efforts were going on as I would be getting in the way.  So yesterday morning we drove up there.

As they always say, it is much more impressive in person.  Photos do not do justice to the size and scope of the disaster.

They had a really nice tree memorial at the site for those that died.  There was little tributes on and around these trees.  I was crying but when I got to the dog tribute toward the end I kind of lost it.

But there was a really beautiful flag across the road which helped.

Then we drove into Seattle to try to finish the Kurt Cobain tour we started on my birthday trip.  We went to his first house in Seattle,

one of his favorite restaurants,

and Viretta Park.

We peeked into the last house he had

 and its garage.

Then we went to Linda’s Tavern, the last place he was seen alive

and the Central Saloon where Nirvana first played in Seattle.

We then hit up the Nirvana exhibit at EMP.

We ran out of time to go to the Crocodile Cafe and the Marco Polo Motel.

We then went to visit my step father to hear about his experiences in the Vietnam War.  This was the really reason for the trip south, and I prompted it by first watching the American Experience show about the fall of Saigon on its 40th anniversary.  It was very interesting to hear his first hand accounts and see pictures.  I am so glad he was able to share these with us.  And I will remember the images of Haley and Gilbertson, men from his unit that did not make it home.