Flipper's Adventures

Follow the adventures of Flipper on his excursions down the Oregon coast to visit Debbie in sunny California

First week on the road -

Hi Mom-

Thought I'd better check in and let you know that I am fine. I hitched a ride with a trucker, Earl, who was headed for Portland in his big rig. It so happens he was taking some
salmon from Seattle, so you can imagine how happy I was to get on board! Attached is a picture of Portland that Earl took for me before we parted ways, I'll be back in
touch again soon! Please look after my family for me - I kow I can count on you.

CRUISIN DOWN I-5 AND FLIPPER AT A TRUCK STOP

Week two and having a grand adventure -

Hi Mom-

Sorry I haven't written for awhile - I don't always have access to my email from the road. After parting with Earl, I met up with Sunshine and Moonbeam - two 1960;s throwbacks
who are traveling the country intheir VW bus. They said they were headed for Crater Lake for a Flower Power camp-out. When I heard the mention of water, I decided why not?
So I flipped into the bus and we were on our way. They are activits who won't eat tuna because of the dolphins who get caught in the process, so I knew we'd get along. We
had a great time singing Bob Dylan tunes together! We met up with the other folks at the campground and had plenty of stories to tell around the campfire. Here's another picture
your scrapbook. I'll write again - Sunshine and Moonbeam say hello and 'peace out'.

Love

Flipper (now also known as "Sea Breeze")

CRATER LAKE - we camped on that little island in the center of the lake

Week three a little culture goes a long way -

Hi Mom -

I left Sunshine and Moonbeam in Crater Lake and caught a ride with a nice family, the Masons, from Tucson who were touring the west coast in their station wagon. They were
heading to Ashland to take in some Shakespeare, so I decided to tag along. All that Boby Dylan left me feeling a little bummed out, so a romantic tragedy sounded good. We
took in "Romeo and Juliet" and "Anthony and Cleopatra". After Ashland, the Masons were heading out toward the coast, so I stuck with them. Billy and Jenny taught me some
somngs to sing in the car. I can't wait to sing "100 bottles of beer on the wall" with my family when I get back. To help get out of my funk after seeing all that tragedy on stage,
the kids and I took a hike in the woods out on the Oregon coast. I met some friends along the way - here's a picture of use that Bill took with his digital camera. Hope everyone
is still fine back home. I'll write again soon.

Love

Flipper
"Sea Breeze"

A HIKING WE WILL GO

Week four meeting a Valley boy -

Hi Mom-

After going on the hike, we took a quick dip in the beautiful Pacific Ocean off the Oregon Coast. My friends Lester the Lobster and Sam the Seal decided to travel with me on
my journey. We hopped into a boat on a trailer just as the driver pulling the boat out of the water. He had California license plates, so we figured chances were pretty good
that he'd get us where we were going. His name is Bob, and he welcomed us to join him when he discovered us when he stopped at a rest stop. He is from Mill Valley,
California and was up in Oregon on vacation. He said we could hang out at his place and sit in the hot tub whenever we wanted, but Lester didn't like that idea too well
(he lost a cousin that way). We'll stay with Bob, though, until we figure out our next step.

Here are some more pictures - you can see I am happy and healthy. I'll write again soon, but in the meantime, I'd love to hear back from you and
see how you and my family are doing.

Love,
Flipper

BOY, WILL I BE GLAD WHEN WE GET TO SEA LEVEL AGAIN

Week six (not sure where week five went but are we groovin) -

Hey Mom, howzit goin'?

I gotta tell you California is totally bitchin'! Bob was groovy and all, but we ended up ditching him at the Jelly Belly factory in Fairfax, CA. His granola lifestyle was just a little too much
for us. We're more into shooting the curl and hanging ten and all that totally tubular stuff!

So, like I was saying, we were at the Jelly Belly factory (photos attached), and guess who we ran into? Your friend, Debbie Ketchell and her husband, Steve! They invited us
to hang with them down at Stanford for awhile, so we said why not, dudes? Debbie is on her way to start some big-time job at Stanford, but was really cool about letting us tag along.
You can see that we are right at home in their new apartment. We don't want to over-stay our welcome, so will probably come home pretty soon. I filled up with Jelly Bellies in Fairfax,
so watch for a package with the other candy to come soon. It was just weighing me down on the waves anyway...

See you sooner than later, I promise! Give the wife and kids a hug and kiss from me.

Hang Loose,

Flipper

I LOVE JELLY BELLIES

Week seven I am a pool fool -

Hi Mom-

Debbie and I had a long talk the other night and she helped me realize that I need to come home. Life on the road can get tiring and lonely after a while, so I'll be glad to be back in Seattle and sleep in my own room. Debbie has been a great hostess and we've especially enjoyed hanging out by the pool(see attached pictures)!

Debbie offered to bring me home when she comes to Seattle this coming weekend. Please tell Flipperette and the kids that I am looking forward to my homecoming. I think my wandering fin has been satisfied for a long time now! I tried to stay in touch to let you know I was okay, but I can imagine that you were worried. Please know that I am in good hands until I return.
See you soon!

Love,

Flipper

GROOVIN WITH THE KETCHELL'S

Week eight home sweet home -

All my library friends,

The end to another road trip. I flew back from California with Debbie on Thursday. Unfortunately, I had one too many Martini's on the plane (one is too many for me),
and had to rest in bed with a tuna headache and didn't make it into the library on Friday. Mom and I had an emotional reunion on Saturday (see pix) and I'm very happy
to be back with my family again. The trip was fun and I made lots of new friends (Earl, Lobster, Seal and many more), but it is very good to be home.

Mom knew that Debbie would be desolate without me and found a new friend to live down at Lane Library in the hot, sunny southlands. His name is Snoop Doogie Dawg.
To remind her of the great Seattle Mariners, Dawg is always singing "Who Let the Dawg Out."

I'll be back in the library next week refreshed, relaxed and ready to get back to my important job of giving out candy to all my wonderful friends who make me laugh day
in and day out. I have a belly full of jellies (i.e., Jelly Belly flops).

Come by and visit back in my old position in Mom's office.

Flip

FLIPPER AND MOM REUNITED!