George read in the News Tribune that the Daffodil Parade would be Saturday, early afternoon, downtown. We decided to check out the colorful floats and the crowds, and get in some walking.
He parked the car on a steep hill (so we'd have to hike back up on the way home), and we proceeded to try to find the Parade. But, we never did find it! No crowds, no noise. Had he miss-read the time, the date?
We decided to just keep walking, ambling through downtown Tacoma and over the 11th Street Bridge. It was the strangest feeling, as if we were out of time.
I told him to hold my arm so I could look around while walking. This is something I cannot generally do anymore because of double-vision issues. I start to stagger and get dizzy and almost topple over.
Well, it was sure not the Daffodil Parade. As we kept walking all I could do was look down. As we crossed the old drawbridge on 11th Avenue I noticed that about four pigeons had lost their lives by flying into the tall mesh beams. Pigeon wings were mashed into the pavement and the crows had come to pick at the meat. People had thrown bottles and candy wrappers into the gutter, and, well, it was not my kind of stroll, if you know what I mean. It reminded me of when George and I first lived in the Chicago area, and I asked to go for a Sunday drive and we'd end up driving through industrial areas. He'd laugh as I got more disgusted, and we'd have to try to figure out how to get out of there.
We no sooner got over the drawbridge when I wondered 'what if that darn thing starts to go up on the way back, and the two of us would be gripping the edges by our fingernails, trying to hang on! I imagined the panic of people on the Titanic, sliding and careening into the ocean. Heaven forbid if we got stranded on the tideflats for the weekend! I started thinking of everything horrible that could happen to us while we were trying to hike out of there. Getting kidnapped or beaten up while waiting for the darn bridge to lower.
There was nothing pretty here. In fact it doesn't look like a female-friendly place. If I screamed for help here, would anyone hear me? 
What was all the junk for, anyway? 
Gizmos, gadgets, dials, wires and fuses, rust and old paint.
Junk metal, old conveyor belts, just dumped. George started walking around and I told him to wait,
I wanted to check out the color of this rusty pool of water. Suddenly a little brown rabbit hopped out from under a hiding place. There was not a shred of grass or greenery for him to nibble on. Some hobos had made a camp by one of the old trucks, and bedding and old clothes were strewn, abandoned. 
Old warehouses needed paint - and workers.Nearby is the Thea Foss Waterway which is under renovation. A planned waterfront community is currently under development.
We noticed this houseboat moored along the waterfront, near the industrial ghetto. A woman was preparing flower-boxes. Finally, a comforting image, a home on the water; the faint sound of music, daffodils on the deck. Whew, finally spring. Finally something floral and feminine. We headed back up 11th Avenue, got books, music and movies at the Library and came home for lunch. I made Salmon Frittatas on home-made naan, served with French bouillabaisse, a fish and vegetable stew I made the day before. This soup is my favorite, so incredibly light and flavorful, with a broth that is just indescribable...I add pureed mandarin orange to the broth, as well as a little Dominic's San Francisco Style Cioppino Sauce. This gives the broth a beautiful flavor and color.
Salmon Frittatas on a naan bun make the perfect breakfast for George (no more egg McMuffin). I make several at a time, wrap them and store them. If my sons come to visit, there are always a few in short order, warmed in the microwave.To make them, beat four eggs and slowly create a thick crepe on the stove-top, adding seared onion, garlic, and other vegetables. I layer finely-shredded red pepper, cauliflower, kale, broccoli and carrots on top of the crepe. Broil these in the pan. Add ham and cheese, chunks of canned red salmon, bread crumbs, and broil some more. I make my own breadcrumbs and cheese, and also a tartar sauce for the bun. After everything has a nice browned crispness wrap it up in wax paper, then again in a plastic bag to maximize freshness. The frittata takes only about 25 seconds in the microwave to reheat perfectly.
