Chatting up Seattle

I went to Seattle. It was lovely. And tricky. Had a plan. Husband and I would get up at the butt crack of dawn and get on the road in order to spend time with lovely relatives I have not seen in ages. (Not an overexageration, I'm afraid.) Didn't work out like that. Had to have lunch in hometown with some people I've never met before. To be fair, lunch was a surprisingly enjoyable affair and I'm not just talking about the food. Not known for my conversational skills, I actually smiled, asked questions, attempted to reply in full sentences...