When given the option to escape

Seize the day.

I mentioned in my last post that I took a spontaneous trip to Portland. 

All these options appeared out of thin air for the weekend. 

Here is the recap of possibilities: 

HikingKayaking... Actually sailing, but I did watch my Uncle Kayak. Wine.. Mike's Hard... that has to count for something. St Helens to visit Rachel and Dustin
Uncle Wilton and Aunt Nancy Combined forces with Dustin and Rachel The lovely Marks family Minus Sterling and EmPowell's bookstore  Oh this place has my heart 
Andy Christensen-- so sad. Heath Black  Lunch at East Burn. I hadn't seen this character in years. 

and a possibility of driving to Washington to meet Jon Chittim's baby and family.

Surprising additions:

Boating with the Marks family

Voodoo Donuts is always a must

Distant Relative from Holland who just so happened to drive back to California with me 

Breakfast with Stacie North at the Waffle Window 

Night 1. Driving through the night, I took a short hiatus at a flying j. As I woke up, this is what I woke up to. How can a smile not form across your face when you are driving through this. It was all so serene and breathtaking-- not in the metaphorical.

This trip was exactly what I needed, it was due time that I get away from things for a bit. My mind is all over the place. My heart is no where near home.  My feet are waiting to go. But glue is a funny thing. 

Day 1. Getting to Portland. I stop at rest stop. See a homeless. He was genuinely in rough shape. I handed him a FiberOne bar and four quarters. As a drove away, all I wanted to do was sit and talk to him. My heart actually broke as I did drive away. To be real honest that was more important than the four quarters. Still, I drove away. I still think about it. 

75 miles until Portland. I officially can no longer drive. I've been 

awake for over 24 hours, and slept 4 hours the previous night. Took a detour to Albany to visit my other family. I chatted with Doug a bit. He cooked me one of his world famous omelets and I showered.  He then told me to take a nap except he was so excited I was there that he wouldn't let me sleep. I went to Des' room, wide awake I layed there and texted. Until one moment, I was no longer wide awake and I was being gently woken up. I was out. 

That night Des and I went to a great little place, a bike ride away. We talked for hours and were food for mosquitoes (at least sixty mosquitoes just on our backs combined) 

Day 2. Adventure-- ready go. 

Des and I woke up and spent the morning with Thor and Charlie, as well as Jessica Porter-- one of the porch house beauties. Des made a great breakfast with eggs and vegetables and herbs from the  garden. Then an exciting thing happened. Heath Black. 

That's right my friends, in the flesh, Heath Black from Bartlesville, Ok. I mean that's how I remember him-- currently he is all over the place and doing crazy things like starting a company tied to facebook and writing a poetry book. He went on a book tour and sold every last copy. I had the chance to meet him at East Burn for Lunch and catch up and swing on the patio swings.

 

Then off to the sailing adventure with the family in St. Helen's. My Oregon family is great. I like them a lot. Sailing was beautiful. After sailing-- ate a feast and drank mike's hard lemonade and beer. On that trip some of the funniest quotes were created. 

"Was that my sewing machine?" Uncle Wilton said. We took a quick turn and a loud bang game from inside the boat. The machine is still survived, the case is not.  Waking up on a sailboat was amazing and I would be okay living on a boat. Maybe I will someday. 

 

Day 3. Bring me to the lake. 

 knee boarding, attempted wake boarding, wake surfing, rock climbing, swimming and the Marks. What a perfect combination. Oh, plus fried chicken. The weather on my trip was beautiful and I couldn't be happier.

I will own a boat when I have a family.  I know this seems like a big investment but I would rather spend the money on something the family could do together outside rather than all the other things that seclude. Given this is far down the road but at least I know now. 

Day 4. The Portland Musts. 

Visited the cute children at the treehouse nursery and now wish I worked there,  Powell's books and Voodoo donuts bought some inappropriate donuts. Said my goodbyes, picked up my distant distant Holland relative Velaska and off we went all the way back to California. 

Passing through the California borders, the hills and the valley's caught my eye. I kept think of the verses about being a light on the hill and what that truly looks like. The light looks different to everyone but still still has one purpose that constantly remains.  Guidance. 

SALT AND LIGHT. You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men."You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

 Matthew 5:13-15