Opening Day!
Photo by William Nelson
It's been two years since I've been able to make it to opening day. Two separate health events happened in the very week we were on because of weather. This time, I knew well in advance I was going to make it, no matter what.
This turned out to be our best opening day of Exotics at Redmond Town Center (E@RTC) ever. We were full with thousands of spectators making it out. Traffic was well managed, security was well managed and the whole town was buzzing with excitement. I spent so much of my time in meet-and-greet mode that I never had the chance to actually look at the cars. The whole thing was wonderful.
I lived in the Seattle area for forty-three years. Driving around in my rental was second nature as I knew where everything was. The muscle memory is still there. But living in Missouri has changed me in ways I didn't expect, and going back made that obvious.
I don't relate to what Alaska Airlines has become. It's so politically correct, it's unrecognizable as an airline. I doubt it's even aware of what it has become. I didn't change. The airline went off the deep end and served inedible food and snacks designed by someone who lives in a tree. You see the same slip into political correctness everywhere up there. Empty trains running along the light rail corridor. Mixed gender bathrooms that are only used by men. There were zero women coming and going. Of course, a camera was found in one. Now there is a surprise! Horizontal construction projects were still everywhere, and still not finished. That didn't surprise me one bit.
About the only thing that felt normal was our car show. I miss my friends, and opening day reminded me why I still do this. But I sure was glad to be on the flight home. Missouri feels more like me every day. Work and life at Moose Lodge still feels wonderful. I plan to make it up there more than once this year. Fly in, have the show, fly out. That's the drill now and I'm good with it.
Next week I'll be in Austin, TX for a few days and that will feel different once again. Then after that, who knows where I'll be or for how long. But right now, it's just good to be home doing my thing.