I am writing this on Saturday morning with the grey clouds thin enough to hint at blue behind them. It rained much of the night, but it started to dry out later in the morning. I did something I had done for a long time. I went to bed too early, 9ish, and while my sleep was broken and I woke and read a couple times, it was the first time in my memory that I rested and slept over eight hours. It feels good.
Friday morning started with me waking in the spare room at the Smith’s beach house, warm enough under a quilt but still also wearing my warm robe. I woke, as usual, before my alarm set at 7:30, turned off the alarm, found my way into the darkened house, and sat at the dining table. There, I spent the early morning writing. The sunlight grew as I wrote, but with the raging sea, dark sky, and rain, it just got exchanged black for grey.
Cat and then the rest of the Smiths rose just as I finished the blog, about 1200 words, and published it. Cat toasted some chocolate babka from a NYC bakery and made coffee. She grinds the beans and uses various devices she offers to teach me. I demurred, and we carried our coffee and goodies to the great room over the garage, joining Michelle and David.
I clean up somewhere in these processes. One has to be aware of the timing, as the beach house has one bathroom.
There, we plan the day. I get ready to leave, but there is a delay. Cat and Michelle punch their copy of board game Istanbul that I gave them years ago. I applied the stickers, all male images, and commented that I replaced mine with some other images to include a few women instead (available online with a quick Google search). Soon, we had the game ready to be played. Next, we managed to play a quick three-person game of Azule; Michelle crushed us.
Wanda’s Cafe and Bakery is an old-school breakfast-lunch restaurant in Nehalem. I ordered biscuits and gravy, which was no more than it should have been. David, Michelle, and Cat shared their orders of French toast, eggs benedict, and an omelet of local items. It looked good, and everyone was pleased. I should have ordered 1/2 an order. I had this with more coffee as I had to drive home soon.
David and I walking on the beach.
I got a request from Michelle to bring some cooperative board games, including Pandemic.
We got back into David’s tall Jeep, which had a step come out to help, but still, I found it a challenge to grab the handle, balance, and climb in. David parks the Jeep at the breach road, and we walk through some grass on a well-worn path to the beach. The sea is high with 7′ waves (that is average, not the tallest wave), and the tide is going out, showing the beach now. It is winter, and so the King tides are here, so more water comes in. The beach is the usually brown, sticky sand of Oregon (we have no issue with sand here), but the tides have removed all the shells and other jetsom flotsam I usually see. No shell to take home today.
The Smiths, beach regulars, have high boots, and I have to retreat once as the seas grasp for us. I keep one eye on the sea at all times. You only turn your back on the ocean when walking directly off the beach. Our beaches will kill the careless or at least soak you.
Walking on the beach and hearing the waves’ roar is always so peaceful. It is a delight to look out into the sea, watch the large waves break, and wonder how tall that was. I saw at least one ten-footer.
We returned to the beach house, and then I departed on time at 3PM. In time to cross the Coastal Mountains in daylight. Michelle had offered another day with them and then an early return on Saturday. I stayed with my plan as I was tired. I am always sad to leave the coast, and the sea was an artist’s dream. I took 101, avoiding Highway 53 to not explore the capabilities of Air Volvo and my driving, and I got an extra twenty minutes taking peeks at the sea while driving on 101.
I took Highway 26 back to Beaverton. The drive was slower today as folks were not going fast, so I was happy to reach 60 mph and did have a moment of 70 mph. The rain was heavier, and a few puddles slowed folks.
The mist was still in the forest, and the views were storybook-like. The clearcut near Highway 26 was a planted forest being harvested–not a safety item I reported in yesterday’s blog. This always gives me mixed emotions as I love the forests, but as a planted forest, it is a resource like wheat, and people here make a living from this process. It is also the only considerable tax revenue for the local governments. So, I respect the Oregon logging traditions and know they will replant the forest. Also, the cuts are made in pockets to allow the local animals to adjust. No longer are hundreds of acres of wood cut at once. Oregon loves its trees.
As I wrote, I am always sad to leave the sea but happy to reach the valley and see the familiar laser-straight four-lane Highway 26. The rains slowed, and the sky was more broken grey. I was treated to a car taking a sudden crossing of five lanes and then exiting the street–yes, home to the Greater Portland Area. Air Volvo soon arrived after 78 miles at the Volvo Cave. The trip took 1:46.
As I was unloading, my neighbor’s dark-colored cat came to me, meowed, and let me pet it. It then walked home, waiting for me to follow. I walked up to the cat area in front of my neighbor’s house. The house was dark, and their cars were not there. The cat showed me empty dishes. Oh.
I finish unloading and then head to Safeway. I find a smaller bag of neutral cat kibble and two bottles of salad dressing. Everyone seemed to come simultaneously, and everyone just had a few items. The checking lines, even the DIY version, were backed up. I went with a human as the wait seemed the same.
Soon, I returned. The cat was waiting. I put some food in the dish, and I no longer existed as far as that cat was concerned. The cat had performed the appropriate summoning ritual, and food appeared. The human servant may go, and I did.
At the house, I made a salad to go with the dressing I had purchased (I was out of salad dressing). I turned the cable to The Sandman show and watched the last episodes of the first season. The following season is still being made.
As it was Friday, I started the laundry.
I went to bed and read for a while, got sleepy about 9ish, and fell asleep. I woke around 10ish to take my meds, read again, and fell asleep again. This process was repeated a few times. It was nice to just rest one night.
Thanks for reading.
Alohawild (Michael Wild's) Website 