May 19, Friends

A very dear friend of mine, Chris, whom I have had the pleasure of having in my life since 1976, lives in Salem, Oregon. He can probably tell you exactly the date we met, he has such great attention to detail. It’s a really long time to have a friend like this in my life. This is the type of person who sees all of your life. Sometimes close up, sometimes from a distance, but always a constant presence in your life. Never judging, often guiding and always accepting. Ever since I left Bellevue there has been physical distance between us, living in different cities, mostly as his career took him across the country, and across the Pacific Ocean and back. We kept in touch with writing letters before the creation of email and the internet, cell phones and text messaging. Sometimes there were long periods of time without contact as our lives shifted and relationships came and went. Through all of that, this special bond of friendship has remained.

The past couple of years we have actually been able to meet up in person about twice a year. We both have family in Seattle, California and Arizona so it was easier to get connected. When I came up with this idea for volunteering at Heceta Head Lighthouse, we were both excited for the possibility to hang out together a little bit more. 

Last Saturday was one of those fortuitous times. I was lazing about that morning watching it rain and writing. I had nothing on my schedule for that day, no lighthouse duty and nothing to do outdoors because it was raining so hard I didn’t bother to walk the hundred yards to the ranger’s booth where the WiFi is to check for messages until about 11:00 a.m. When I finally did, there was a message from him saying he and his lovely wife, Karen, wanted to get together this weekend. Hmm. does he mean this weekend as in today? Or next weekend since it is now already this weekend? So I drove up to the Sea Lion caves where I have proper cell service so we can have a phone conversation and better texting. Yes, today would be good, nothing on my schedule. I suggested we meet part way, in Newport, and he agreed that would be a good meeting point. We decided the Rogue Brewery in Newport at 2:00 would be a good place to rendezvous. Perfect. It was the motivation I needed to get up and get a shower. Some days are like that. 

As usual we picked up like we had seen each other last week. This time it had only been since last November when we met up in Tucson. Karen has family in Phoenix and they made the trek south for a meet up. 

The food was good, the beer was good and the conversation with a dear friend, just simply the best. I will also have the opportunity to have him and Karen welcome me to their home in Salem to create more beautiful memories, share some more good food and  continue to grow in this lifelong friendship.