Sisters

No, not those sisters, but a the small town on the East side of the Cascade mountains in central Oregon that has welcomed me back, once again. I am here for a track meet, but that is for another narrative. For now, it is just me, sitting here on the deck of my son Tate and his wife Aimee, looking out toward the mountains named the Three Sisters. They are still snow capped and it is the middle of June. I am out here at 5:20 am and am greeted by a light falling rain and a full rainbow that frames the mountains beneath of it. All I can think is this is going to be a great day because God is taking out all of the stops. To my right is the pond the kids have and the sounds that emanate from it is magical, in the best sense of the word. The fish have started their day, the frog that sang all night, has called it quits for the day and the falling water takes me to another time and place.

What the kids have done with their acreage is another lesson in magic and working with nature and enhancing what it gives you. It is surrounded with natural sage and native vegetation with the yard planted grass, flowers and trees so the feeling is an oasis in the middle of the high dessert. Bird feeders and birdhouses rim the yard and blend in with the natural plants so you have to look to see them, nothing detracts from the natural. It has been 2 years since I have visited and yet it is as if nothing has changed, and still it all looks new. These kids are green in all they do and here is just seems so right. I am not that much of a green person, yet here I accept it and even embrace it for what it means to them and to the environment they wish to protect.

To add to the musical presentation by nature, is the dripping of the last raindrops, as it comes off of the roof and falls to the deck, just outside where my feet are resting. Along with the sounds from the pond, it transports me to where I want to be, not necessarily where I am. I look back a lot out here, and today I do so again with memories of when this young family left the nest and started a new life here in a new land, a land far from home: my home. I do not get to see them much; they are both busy and it is a long way to travel, so each visit is so special. I see lessons learned, like really strong coffee in the morning, a smooth martini in the evening and a love for nature that is not placed upon you, but is accepted as a part of the inner being. There are lessons learned and practiced in their own lives, such as a complete order to their lives and their home. Nothing is out of place and everything has a place. They like the finer things without being self-effacing and they share a love for each other that only comes from observations from their past. I do not know how I fit into their lives, but I have to reflect and wonder how I fit into the lives of my folks as I went on my own way, and raised a family of my own. I try not intrude, yet want to have a place of importance, maybe even a sense of pride and not embarrassment on their part. I am here to join them in watching an athlete that I have gotten to know through Tate and I want to watch him as he finishes his college career, hopefully in the manner he is used to. It is because of him that I am rewarded with knowing my own son has made a special impact on a very talented individual trackster in an sport that has high importance in our family. I loved the sport and never went beyond high school with it, but was able to live a second life of track through all three of my kids. Now it is extended as both of my boys coach the sport, not as full time teachers, but on a per season basis. I am also blessed with a grandson who is turning out to be a fine athlete on the track; and here, have an added focus watching a former athlete of Tate take center stage on the world scene. I am blessed, and as I sit here on the porch, the blessing are all wrapped up in new emotions, emotions I have not felt in some time. It feels good. So as I sit here telling you my story, I will go pack my things and wait for Tate to come home from work; then we will load up and go to Eugene and watch a track meet. 4 days sitting with my son at an event we both share in some ways alike, and with our separate thoughts, in others.

I sit here and realize that there are less sunrises and sunsets left in my life than there once was. I am struggling with how to not let memories over-shadow events yet to come. I am embracing these new and special times with an appreciation and love that I hope they deserve. And for today, I am especially appreciative of a small dot on this great planet that is called Sisters, home to a special part of my life.

6-9-10