August 15th....We have now been here six months. Was much easier to settle here than South Carolina. Westerners at heart I guess. We drove to Portland where we visited Chuck (Charlie) and together cleaned out his wardrobe. He is progressively getting weaker and less communicative. He's still able to water his small garden and occasionally grasp his old sense of humor. Terri, Will and I drove to good ole Fred Meyer's where we bought him some new clothes and a couple of hats. He loved the hats and actually kissed a pair of leisure pants Will picked out; they were black & white checks like a Chef wears. It was both joyful and sad to visit him...he certainly isn't the man he use to be and it's difficult to remain connected to him both in conversation and in presence. But the place he lives is loaded with folks who know and appreciate him.....especially now that he's not so angry.
We stayed in Troutdale again at the Edgefield. It's always fun and Terri enjoyed it. We arrived late on Saturday and were actually too tired to attend the film they were showing out in the vineyard. We encountered no ghosts and enjoyed the grounds, food and liveliness of the place; there were 3 weddings taking place that night. We drove home through the Columbia Gorge and stopped in Cascade Locks for lunch. Hiked Multnomah Falls for over 2 miles and loved the beauty (as always) of the Gorge. Riding home along the Washington side of the River, seeing all the wind surfers and the fantastic River views. Then we stopped at a neat State Park on the rivers edge to look at a few dozen petroglyphs and a pictograph all done many hundreds of years ago by the local native people. It was a wonderful way to spend a Sunday.
Terri stayed with us for a week....we went to Walla Walla and shopped. Discovered recycle shops here in Richland and walked along the River both ways for miles. Terri swore I was preparing her for a marathon! Feels good to know I walk miles without even thinking about it. Suki loved both Terri & Mary being here in the house and she now wonders "what happened?"
Book clubs are starting back up. Just finished "The Art of Racing in the Rain" and will attend book club on 8/18. My classes start on August 22nd so it will be interesting to see if I can keep up my book clubs with the homework assigned. We also saw 2 really good movies: "The Help"and "Buck." Wanted to see the Sean Pean-Brad Pitt film "The Tree of Life" but it only played here a few days so we missed it.
The month of September brings shorter days, cooler nights and more visitors! Tom & Martie are coming on September 7th, Carolyn and Joel (our S.C. neighbors) are also visiting for a few days following their Alaska Cruise, and Debby Jeter is visiting the last weekend of the month. Then in October we are trying to get a TimeShare visit to Hawaii. Will is suffering Ocean-wave-loss. He has got to get into the water...preferable without a wetsuit!!!
I miss my grandkids: Kannon, Kiara and Marly most of all. Kannon at 9 is going into 4th grade, Kiara is 7 and climbing rock walls! Marly is talking to all who will listen and brings her parents constant joy. I get to talk with them by telephone and sometimes see them with electronic assistance but there's nothing like holding a grandchild in your arms and experiencing the sheer joy of their being. Be well and stay present.
