The first post

I’ve been told it rains in Seattle, but every time I would visit, for the most part it was sunny and beautiful, green and glorious.
Originally from Anchorage, I’ve been an inlander for the past 13 years, and I’m happy to be back by the water. My 4-year-old King Charles Spaniel, Abbey, and I have been enjoying afternoon strolls along Alki beach, or Lincoln Park, watching the ferries come and go, enjoying the view, the people and yes - the sunshine!
I’m new in town, as a real live resident anyway. I moved here on a leap of faith, seeking out a fresh start and new opportunity. I chose Seattle because I am somewhat familiar with the city as a result of visiting often, and it’s an easy hop on a direct flight for my friends in Anchorage to come visit me, and vice-versa. Also, I’m not too far from my only son, who started college this fall.
So far I’ve spent more time than I’d like to taking the wrong exit and ending up taking twice as long as it should to get from point A to point B. However I look at these faux pas as a learning experience. The most “fun” was ending up in the port area, highly intimidated by the huge trucks on either side of me. Now, I have a GPS, and more faith, so I am doing much better!
One week into this new adventure, heading north on 99 attempting to get to Westlake, I realized I’d overshot it when I ended up in Green Lake. I pulled off by the park and lake, only to see one of Seattle’s finest sitting there in his cruiser in the parking lot. I’m thinking “He can give me directions!”
Pulling in with a big smile on my face, he crooks his finger for me to come over. Before I can inform him of my predicament and get directions on how to get back on 99 going south, he orders me to turn my car around and park in front of him. I comply, but I am clearly not understanding what is going on.
The officer tells me my plates expired in 2007. He didn’t know how to read Idaho stickers, so I asked if I may show him, and indeed they didn’t expire until 2010. I explained I just landed in Seattle a week ago, and I haven’t had time to get a Washington Driver’s license and plates yet. I have them now.
Embarrassed (I think), he asks for my license, registration and proof of insurance. Now I’m really in trouble. I sat in my car for a good 10 minutes eating a cupcake from the cupcake shop in West Seattle, waiting for the bad news, which I got. A $124 ticket for pulling in the parking lot the wrong way. Keep in mind, I was stressed out from moving and being lost. Fatigued and frustrated I started to cry. I do think he felt bad, but he didn’t back off on the ticket. He did tell me how to get back on 99 going south, and I did reach my destination, although a bit unraveled.
The upshot? I mitigated the ticket by mail, explaining the situation in detail. “Because of my good driving record,” this won’t go on that good record as long as I keep my nose clean for a year, but I still have to pay a $100 administrative fee. Welcome to Seattle I guess.
I’m still glad I’m here. The grocery stores and markets are absolutely amazing. I’ve never seen such beautiful flowers and produce! I even attended the Pearl Jam concert at the Key Arena, which was big fun. I’d seen them three times already, but this was their kick off of a new tour, and my first big night out as a resident.
Now I’ve discovered shortcuts to places I visit often, and I even made it to the airport and back to greet a friend with no catastrophes. Cheers to most of the drivers in Seattle, too. I find they are courteous and patient, except for one guy who blasted his horn behind me because I wanted to make a left turn into a drive-through espresso joint. He must have been in a big hurry, so I aborted the plan and drove around the block and still got my coffee!