Introducing MG - As I Recall Last Easter

The package was small and light. And it revealed nothing through by futile attempts at shaking. I surrendered reluctantly and opened the gift shipped from MG to the parents of his girlfriend whom he had yet to meet. The contents included two Washington state miniature license plates bearing our names, or rather the names given to us by MG in his inability to accurately recall our real names. One read “Milton” and the other “DeeDee”. M&D…nice one MG, an instant ice breaker for our future meeting.

The flight was uneventful except for the occasional turbulence as I passed over the Rocky Mountains on the ascent from Denver. As I, or more accurately, the plane and I, approached the Cascades I began to realize the potential significance of the rendezvous that awaited me. Perhaps temporary, perhaps not, but in either case, a meeting such as this is always significant. God, Mt. Rainier was stunning!

As expected, my driver was awaiting my arrival albeit without the customary black suit and placard reading “West”. J was there and I saw her smiling as I rode the terminal escalator down to meet her and my checked bag. I recall wishing that I had thought to plan my descent beneath an open umbrella. I was after all in Seattle, though I knew the day would offer a cloudless blue sky and brilliant sunshine. Habitually my closed umbrella remained at the ready within my carryon.

Then there was MG…my first “real” encounter. At our “actual” first, he was simply one of several brief handshakes with a group of J’s friends during a previous visit to Seattle and prior to his current elevated status in my daughter’s young heart. A worthy enough looking young man for J but the bar has been purposefully and permanently placed rather high. We’ll see.

His task had been simple enough. He was to seek out an establishment with Guinness on tap…no bottles. And a hearty Irish atmosphere would be a plus although he was unaware of this secret expectation. And it would have to be within close proximity of the airport so we could enjoy a couple of pints prior to our timely return to SeaTac for the arrival of a flight carrying Denise and K and Denise’s parents. We had a two hour widow and MG confidently sized up the challenge ahead and “approached the bar”.

Mick Kelly’s Irish Pub is in Burien, Washington and is located a mere 4 miles from SeaTac. J, MG and I were seated in shade outside the front of the pub. The tree-lined street and adjacent small shops gave the impression of a rather quaint neighborhood despite its proximity to the airport. That proximity after all was by necessity. The pints arrived, amply chilled in traditional Guinness branded tulip glasses. Within the confines of the tulip was the unmistakable surge and settle goodness of my favorite beverage. And on top, the obligatory shamrock artistically placed within the creamy head by an excellent barkeep as he concluded the draw.

Although Guinness Extra Stout is the namesake brew originated by Arthur Guinness in 1759, today Ireland’s most popular beverage is Guinness Draught. It made its debut two hundred years later when I was 6-months old. Who would have thought we would eventually grow so close. True to their advertised claims, the draught “incorporates a unique mix of nitrogen and carbon dioxide creating its liquid swirl that tumbles, surges and gradually separates into a black body and smooth creamy head”.

Upon our eventual downing of several pints of heaven we prepared to depart. As I awaited the check, I was informed by MG that our debt had been satisfied and that it was his pleasure. The "pleasure" as it were would be mostly mine as I was later informed that MG was not naturally of the Guinness-loving persuasion. Ahh...strike 1. Then as we returned to the car, I noticed MG grinning and holding out a box procured privately in the pub…a box for me. The contents included six clean tulip pint glasses bearing the Guinness brand. Hmmm…Strike notwithstanding, MG “approaches the bar” indeed!

Then off we were to the airport and the arrival of the balance of the “judges”. Upon complete assembly of our party, we proceed 20 miles east to Issaquah, Washington to see MG’s townhome and to prepare ourselves for an evening of acquaintances.

Diner was at Jak's Grill in old town Issaquah, Washington. Their specialty is steak and they claim to serve “only corn fed, Nebraska raised beef. The finest beef available anywhere!” This statement would prove accurate. Hmmm…Nebraska beef. This guy is good. MG 2 - High Bar 0.

The next day began with a tour of J’s apartment near Lynnwood. Then we set off for a brief view of J's office in Everett and then on to a glorious day filled with sightseeing.

Denise’s parents had never been to Seattle and we were all interested in assuring their utmost satisfaction with the city’s tourism. We saw downtown Seattle, Elliott Bay, Pike Place Market, Lake Washington, and ate lunch at Ivar's on the waterfront. We mounted the Space Needle and drove to the historic Mukilteo Light Station in the Puget Sound coastal town of Mukilteo, Washington.

I find lighthouses to be fascinating. Information gathered from the Mukilteo Historic Society states that Mukilteo is a translation of the Indian word Muckl-Te-Oh which means long goose neck, possibly referring to the land where the lighthouse stands today. The lighthouse was built by German Architect Carl Leick in 1906. It was constructed of fir wood at a cost of $27,000. The 38 foot tower has a lantern room fully enclosed by glass and was originally vented to accommodate the smoke and fumes from the open lantern flame. Its Fresnel sextagon shaped lens rotated by means of a clockwork weight and pulley system. It required winding every three hours. The flash was at five second intervals. The small sectional prismatic lenses through which the light passed increased its strength to about 7,000 candle power. An oil lamp on the Fourth Order lens required refilling every three hours and used approximately 243 gallons of coal oil per year. A Cunningham eight foot diaphragm foghorn was operated by two air compressors. The foghorn was shaped like a giant trumpet and protruded out the back wall of the lighthouse. It sounded a four second blast every 16 seconds. There was a windmill powered water tower with oil and coal storage rooms beneath. It also served as living quarters for two keepers.

Easter Sunday began in church. It was a spunky little foot-tapping contemporary service that surprised us but served us will on this special day. Easter Brunch was amazing. J & MG had reservations at the Salish Lodge which sits literally just above the roar of Snoqualmie Falls. [If you visit the web link, click on the "video" button.] This 270 foot waterfall is spectacular. Less than 30 miles east of Seattle, it is little wonder that that falls have become the second most visited tourist destination in Washington State.

After a wonderfully choreographed Easter weekend, it is easy to see the chemistry between J and MG. And suddenly my carefully placed "high bar" seems reachable…perhaps I should slip it up a bit.