My Adventures in Writing

So, I’m back to my normal routine of driving to the Portland area for my graduate school classes. The drive from Salem to Hillsboro isn’t too bad most days, except that I think A LOT of people leave work early on Friday. Why is that really? To get a jump on the weekend? Why don’t we leave early on Monday? Or better yet, get to work an hour or two later on Monday? Maybe I should start a new trend.
But anyway, my drives have become routine again after a very long break from classes this past fall and winter. I got rather used to spending my free time at home and to be honest, some of it was spent being just plain lazy. The other time, I spent ripping out 40 year old flooring (some of it looked that old anyway) and putting in new laminate wood flooring and vinyl tile. It was a project and at times, more difficult than actual school work. But it was time well spent with my husband.
Getting back to my routine drive, I’ve found a new route, or rather am revisiting an old route. I now drive through Newberg, up over a steep hill, winding up and over it and then down to Hillsboro. It’s very windy and slow but then the other route requires slowing to an almost complete stop when traveling through three small towns. It’s a toss up but makes more sense lately to drive the revisited route.

Today as I climbed the steep, windy hill, I admired the view of the valley below. Sometimes I take for granted or actually feel punished to have to drive so far. But in reality, if I stop to take in what I am traveling through, it’s worth it. Springtime is especially eye-catching, as I pass lambs, calves, daffodils, and flowering trees everywhere. Not having to keep the windshield wipers on constantly is a blessing.
Today I realized how beautiful the area is when I turned a corner to find a towering, white Mt. Hood in front of me. Portlanders really are lucky to have such a magnificent mountain right out their backdoor, not to mention Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Adams (I think). Those mountains are amazing! If I am lucky I can catch a glimpse of Mt. Jefferson on my morning commute to Salem but not always. Mt. Jefferson is so much further away it seem. Right here in Portland, Mt. Hood is practically starring you in the face. It’s amazing I must say.

I can still imagine the sand between my toes and feel the movement of the waves if I close my eyes. The glow of my tan skin makes me do a double-take every so often, thinking wow, am I really that tan? The cool breeze tonight feels so different compared to the slight but necessary breeze of the Caribbean. Here the feel of the wind almost feels like cheating - it is so drastic. In Mexico, the sweltering heat and humidity made the slight stirring of the air seem like a knight in shinning armor. The slightest movement made all the difference, even if only brief. Without the breeze, it was almost unbearable. When stepping out of the air conditioned room, sweat came almost immediately, paired with an instant thought of, where’s the closest water we can jump in? The walk to the beach took us passed several sparkling swimming pools. They were like mirages as we aimed for the sea.

Once we stepped into the salty, turquoise water, there was no turning back. Like a still-warm bath, the water was inviting, with the mesmerizing roll of the waves. We floated and bobbed, chatting and laughing. Some of the best conversations were had while in waves. The view from the water gave us a different perspective than from shore, as we inconspicuously watched the sun bathers, sandcastle builders, volleyball players and beachcombers.

The snorkeling gave an even diverse perspective, as the world under the water came alive to us. Blue, yellow, and purple flashed before us as the fish darted by. They seemed to be having just as much fun as we were, moving with the motion of the waves. From above, this world was invisible. Yet once it was seen, it was not forgotten. The coral, fish, skates and other creatures came to mind each time I stepped into the water.

Back from vacation, the pictures we took have been downloaded and shared. Looking at each one is like a peek back in time. The sights, sounds and smells come to mind and it’s like I’m there. Will this last? I want to capture it all and not forget one moment.

I really enjoy my drive to work. How many other commuters can say that? I get the pleasure of driving country back-roads on my journey to work. There is hardly ever any traffic. Yes, it may take me 45 minutes to an hour in travel time but it is well spent enjoying the sights and scenes around me.

This morning was especially beautiful. The bright morning sun made everything cheery. The waterdroplets glistened in the sunshine, and made the plants look so refreshed. It was beautiful.

I also get the pleasure of watching the seasons go by. I’ve only commuted for a couple of months so my feelings for this might change as autumn and winter arrive. However, I do enjoy watching the crops grow. It’s amazing how fast some of them transform from tiny seedlings to fields of corn or wheat or strawberries. I am amazed at the variety of food that is grown. It is so beautiful and makes me proud of Oregon. Keep Oregon Green, I say!