Where it All Began

Pullman, WA. It is absolutely a destination.  OK maybe not for most; however, it is for me in this adventure.  This is where it all started, for me at least, and then popped up again later in life. 

June 11, 1971 I was born at Pullman Memorial Hospital, three weeks late.  Mom tells a funny story that the new Veterinary Medicine Hospital for the WSU vet school opened up that spring and they offered tours. Mom was wondering if they would let her deliver there instead of the really outdated and unassuming human hospital.  Twenty years later I found myself back in that hospital as a candy striper (I don't even think they have an equivalent now days).  Infobloom.com explains: 

"A candy striper was traditionally a young, female hospital volunteer - a concept that originated in the 1940's.  The unique job title referred to the candy cane look of the red and white-striped pinafores worn by the volunteers. Traditionally, the girls sewed their own pinafores."

No, I did not sew my own pinafore...but now I'm intrigued....maybe I could.... OK, back to the story. Part of the prerequisites for the nursing school program I was preparing for at WSU was to volunteer at the local hospital. So, there I was, back in the building.  A little taller.  One afternoon a nurse that I was shadowing asked if I wanted to see the newborn nursery, learning that I had once occupied the space. It was then that I realized why my mom joked about delivering at the shiny new veterinary hospital.  It was a closet, with a window, maybe large enough for 3 or 4 babies.

I kicked off this adventure by persuading my dear sweet husband to drive us to Pullman to walk the first few miles in person. 

July 1, 2021:  Here I am in front of what used to be Pullman Memorial (behind the trees).  Then I realized that further in the distance is one of the residence halls I lived in and worked as a resident advisor while I was a student at WSU. 

We had a great evening, including a delicious meal at a local the South Fork Public House and then walking a 2.7 mile loop through some of my old stompin' ground.  Some highlights:

Ferdinand's Creamery where they make ice cream and amazing cheese from cream from the university herd. I might have stopped in there a time or two when I was there for university. However, in those days the shop was tiny and in the back, back, back hallway in Todd Hall. Unfortunately, Ferdinand's was closed. 

Bronze statue of a cougar - when I was a little one there was actually a real, live, Butch the cougar that lived in a pretty small enclosure on this spot. I'm glad they realized that was not the best idea.

Holland Library - I love libraries.

My first dorm room, I had the second story corner room shown in the photo below.

The two homes that we lived in. I have more distinct memories of the Opal Street house (see below). My sis and I made the coolest snow caterpillar ever in the front yard of that house (shown below, current day).

July 2, 2021: We are early risers and the Palouse did not fail to provide one of my favorite memories: sunsets and sunrises across those beautiful rolling hills of grain.

We walked another 2.3 miles this morning and found the Presbyterian church where I was baptized as an infant by my dad, an ordained minister. I had forgotten how hilly WSU's campus is; it makes for a great workout. Whew!! We made our way to Starbucks for a little coffee and saw this great bit of history:

Thank you Pullman, you did not disappoint.  So many memories that I had forgotten or was not ready to remember pleasantly.  God is so good and gracious.  

As we drove out of town we passed the "Welcome to Pullman" sign where my childhood best friend, JJ, and I stopped to get our photo during a campus visit. We had talked about attending together but she chose another university.   

                                       

I am so grateful for the times we did have together, fun memories and lots of birthdays; I feel she is with me in spirit for this 50th birthday adventure. Love you, J!

5 miles down, 455 miles to go.  I have my walking shoes and am ready to go!