June 6, Changing of the Guard and Poetry Monday

A new month already, and some of the volunteers I worked with have moved on. The parting of new friends tugs at my heart, but I know that they are my friends and our paths will cross again somewhere. Just like when I move to a new town or change neighborhoods. I might not see those same people everyday, but they are still a part of my life. I’ll always remember when a friend of mine was moving away from Bellingham, before I did, and someone asked her if she was sad about leaving her friends. Her reply, “no, not sad, because there’s all the wonderful friends out there I haven’t yet met.” 

And like my sister-in-law says, “don’t worry about Valerie, she’s just like her Dad. She’ll make friends wherever she goes.” And I do.

It was nice to take a little break from the pine needles and sand as I spent a couple of nights in Salem with Chris and Karen. We had a great time talking and catching up. A very relaxing time in the comfort of their beautiful home with lots of good food and conversation late into the night. The next morning we were bless with a true Pacific Northwest spring day. Puffy clouds drifting in the sky and temperature warm enough to not need a jacket. We took a walk at the  Riverside Park watching all the people enjoying the day. Families, dogs, cyclists, skateboarders, roller skaters and people like us just ambling along. 

We shared another wonderful evening meal together and played with their cats. They have two very large cats, this all black one with green eyes is Twerp and the stripey 20 pounder is Skittle Pig. 

The week opened up to a few days with just a little bit of rain which makes that 62 degrees feel nice and warm. I was able to get in a run in town on Wednesday and a nice hike from the campground on Thursday before the clouds moved back in with the rain. Friday was a steady light rain most of the day and orientation at the lighthouse for the new volunteers. We were all made aware of the impending storm bringing in more rain, but without the gale winds of last weekend, and it performed very well the past two days giving us another inch or so of water on the ground. 

No, I am not doing well with this. Complaining about the weather doesn’t change it and only makes me feel worse. I hate to admit it, but I am beginning to feel depressed. I’m not thrilled with this sensation, feeling, idea, or state of mind. I hesitate to share it, but it’s important that I acknowledge all of my feelings. Life can’t be all rainbows and mermaids as much as I would like it to be. I have learned the importance of identifying all of my feelings and learning to sit with them. And it’s a gentle reminder that we all have down days, and that’s okay. We need to honor those and be aware and remember that these feelings will pass.

Yes, I knew it was going to be gray, rainy and cold. I lived most of my life in the Pacific Northwest and know that spring time doesn’t always provide those beautiful days like I had in Salem. That doesn’t make it any easier for me either. This is unseasonably wet for this area at this time of year according to all the locals, but that doesn’t help with my state of mind. I don’t like feeling this way, it makes my body ache, I don’t rest well with the rain pelting the roof and the wind rattling the trees and dropping bucket loads of water and pine needles in the middle of the night startling me out of the restless sleep.

In an effort to alter my mood, after my shift Saturday afternoon, Brownie and I took a drive south towards Coos Bay. We stopped in at Winchester Bay, a small fishing village on the Umpqua River. I had a treat of some cappuccino fudge ice cream and drove out along the dunes. Hard to imagine that area crawling with ATV’s and Side x Sides but that is where they love to ride.  

photo of the gear works

Then we drove up to the Umpqua River Lighthouse and lucked out with getting in on the last tour of the day. The rain subsided I think just for us. This lighthouse is the sister to the Heceta Head Lighthouse in that the buildings used the same design for the tower with the attached work room. This one has a red lens in addition to the white lenses and its characteristic is one red, two whites 15 seconds apart. The guide was very informative and happy to take pictures of me and Brownie. Of course the guide and the other visitors wanted to know how Brownie came to be my mascot in my travels so we shared that story and some of the other places she’s visited. 

inside the Fresnel lens

overlooking the dunes

a long climb up

cajun fried oysters and a porter

It got too late to go all the way to Coos Bay and it was time for some dinner so we headed back north to Florence. One of my favorite places there to eat is a little diner called Homegrown. They have some yummy cajun spiced fried oysters, heart warming clam chowder and a fine selection of craft brews to choose from. Afterwards I was rewarded with a phone conversation with a lovely friend which brought much needed sunshine into my gray day. I am forever grateful.

And since today is poetry Monday I will share with you this poem written by a light keeper that was hanging in the museum at Umpqua River light station.

Lightkeeper's Sorrow

Oh, what is the bane of a light keeper's life,

that cause him worry and struggle and strife.

that makes him use cuss words and shout at his wife?

IT'S BRASSWORK.

the lamp in the tower, reflector and shade,

the tools and accessories pass in parade,

as a matter of fact the whole outfit is made,

OF BRASSWORK.

I dig, scrub, and polish, and work with a might,

and just when I get it all shining and bright,

in comes the fog like a thief in the night.

GOODBYE BRASSWORK.

And when I have polished until I am cold,

And I'm taken aloft to the heavenly fold,

Will my harp and my crown be made of pure gold?

NO BRASSWORK!