May 30, Memorial Day and Poetry Monday

May 30, 2022

May 30, Memorial Day and Poetry Monday

Happy Memorial Day! Please take a moment today to thank those who have served to protect our freedoms. I have the pleasure to be with one of those people today, my friend Chris, whom I wrote about previously. It’s a short two hour drive through the beautiful greenery and 962’ mountain pass to get here from my post.

Here we are, at the end of my first month as a guardian of the lighthouse. It’s hard to believe how quickly time passes when some days it feels like nothing happens. Those days are so important though, to be able to slow down and savor what I have been experiencing. To take the time to gather my thoughts that I want to share here, there are so many.

I went to Yachats a few mornings ago, it was supposed to be a rainy day so I didn’t plan a hike or bike ride. I stopped at the bakery to get some sourdough bread but they hadn’t made any that day then so I had an almond croissant. As I sat on the bluff enjoying my treat and watching the waves on the rocks, a gray whale spouted not far off shore. The weather was not bringing in the rain and the wind settled down, not wanting to head back to the trailer I thought I would take a hike.

Easy to do in the middle of the day here, I don’t need to worry about the heat and the midday sun. I decided I would do the Amanda Trail hike, about a 5 mile out and back hike. I chose to start at the high point above Cape Perpetua. It was quiet in the forest, the trail padded by fallen pine needles and tiny wildflowers of Miner’s lettuce, and shamrocks brightening the sides of my path. Brilliant green mosses catching light between the towering trees. Stumps and snags providing the perfect place for mushrooms and fungi to sprout. Skunk cabbage flourishing as if in a tropical rainforest, huge leaves crowding the edges of the creek.

I made my way home after that and rested for a while. Listening to my own advice about how rest is as important as being active. Feeling refreshed, I picked up my spindle and roving and began to spin again. This time it seemed to all make sense, drafting the wool, holding it gently, turning the spindle as I watch the fiber cling together smoothly. As with learning any new skill, it takes practice and desire to accomplish. The neighbor reminded me that setting down what I’m trying to learn allows the brain and body time to assimilate the new neuro pathways and muscle memory required for the new task. Just like in yoga.

I still need more practice with this to be more consistent and I’m excited to work with the roving I have in my stash that I brought back from New Zealand 15 years ago. This is why I came to this lighthouse at this time, to learn a new skill from a beautiful spirit.