As a last hurrah of Jamison’s spring break, he invited me to longboard the Banks to Vernonia trail with him. It’s a nice, long, gentle ride. The weather was wonderful and the trail was dry. Jamison also tooks some videos with his phone.1
Thanks, Jamison for the invite! That’s my boy. :-)
Two years ago, I lost my mom.
In our family room hangs her oil painting of me in the redwoods when I was a child. On our kitchen drainboard sit the orchids I got after going to an orchid show with her and dad. Outside our kitchen window, the muted chimes resemble those in the gentle tree guarding where she rests. And the moon watches over all.
They all remind me of mom.
Yet, it’s not just things that do.
When I iron a shirt, when I cook a favorite recipe, when I mop the floor and make my bed.
She taught me how to do all these; they remind me of mom.
But it’s not just housework.
When I send a card, when I take the time to help, when I volunteer, when I say a kind word, when I’m at my very best.
That’s my mom. That’s who I remember.
And I’m thankful.
Weather in the upper 60’s plus the backyard fence being just posts while it’s being repaired equals a walk with Gilligan to Starbucks and Suzi’s work to deliver a special treat.
Five miles later, we have a tired doggie. Success!
This past weekend, Suzi treated me to a weekend in the Sound. We stayed in Tacoma, at the same place we’d stayed a few years ago.
We got much-needed rest and explored Point Ruston and Point Defiance Park. A ferry ride to Vashon Island sounded like a good idea.1 We visited the lighthouse at Point Robinson Park and ate in Vashon.2 On the ferry ride back, we were one of eight vehicles. There’s not a lot of people headed from Vashon Island to Tacoma late Saturday night.
The next day, we decided to head to Seattle. Somehow we ended up in West Seattle, along Seacrest Park. I’m sure the view of downtown would have been spectacular if the tops of the buildings weren’t dipping into the clouds. Since we were already pretty much there, we stopped by the Alki Point Lighthouse, then headed back downtown where we caught a larger ferry to Bainbridge Island. We walked downtown, exploring a cool little bookstore, some fun little shops, and the local art museum. After eating, it was time for the drive home.
Thank you, Suzi, for a fun birthday weekend!
Any time of the year is a great time to visit Cannon Beach. In fact, we have a tradition of visiting the beach the first weekend of the new year. As our kids have grown up and moved out and away, it’s more difficult to do with everyone. This year, it would be impossible. So, rather than admit defeat, we went when everyone could — on Christmas day! After stockings and opening our presents, we loaded all of us and the dogs into a couple of cars and headed off.
Unsurprisingly, the weather was great and the company better. We skipped our normal visit to Insomnia1 and went straight to the beach. The dogs had a great time running around the beach and into the water. We walked to the Rock, took some pictures, and Jamison and Kevin flew Jamison’s drone.
After getting the tree home yesterday, we washed it, shook it, and left it outside to dry. Then we put it in a stand in a different corner of the room than usual. Lights, ribbons, candy canes, and an angel later, we paused to take it all in.
Mmm… It’s a little taller than we’d expected. Not a bad thing.
It might be time to get some presents.
We waited longer than usual to get our Christmas tree this year. Our preferred day is the Sunday after Thanksgiving. That didn’t work this year because of our family reunion. The next weekend we were in Salt Lake City. And Suzi worked last weekend.
So, today was the day, and it was perfect — if you like rain. Which we do. Or, it doesn’t stop us. Regardless, off we headed, to the same place we’ve gone the last two or three years. Being so late in the season, most of the tall trees were already taken. Allegedly, there were some taller trees if we walked a quarter mile in that direction, back where we’d come from. We walked and then walked around some more, looking and getting wetter. And having fun. Way more fun than going to a lot and getting a tree already found and cut and staked up as though waiting to be found by us.
Back at the tree farm, the pickin’s were slim and so is our tree. But with decorations, it will be perfect, as is every Christmas tree.
Photo credits. Thanks to Jamison for taking pictures this year and giving me permission to post them. Suzi also took a few, which she shared on Instagram.
Another couple of years, another Logan family reunion. Our reunion has changed over the years as one generation takes the place of the prior one and the age distribution changes.1
This reunion was not as well attended as some before. Some family members had other places they needed or wanted to be. We miss those who could not attend. And we were thankful that those near this year’s wildfires were able to join us.
Rain kept us indoors and together. Puzzles, games,2 and meals kept us talking. Willy continued his tradition of reviewing the prior reunion’s predictions and collecting new ones.3
On the final day, my immediate family packed up, took some pictures,4 and left.
We’re already looking forward to our next reunion.
This morning, our phones beeped and we discovered Jamison had sent us our traditional first day of school pictures. We’re so proud!
I wonder how many more years I’ll get to do this. Not too many more, I’d bet.
With Ashley, Melissa, Jamison, and Mousse inviting me to a hike in Forest Park, the day’s plans were clear. We hiked up the Ridge Trail from the south end of St. Johns Bridge. After our hike, we visited Cathedral Park.
