This last week, I had the pleasure of meeting my long-time childhood friends and sisters-from-other-misters in western Oregon. I's important for me to take a moment to acknowledge and appreciate that western Oregon and eastern Oregon are different planets, okay? Western Oregon is high elevation with mostly evergreen conifer trees speckled with deciduous trees, flowery weeds and grasses. Eastern Oregon is largely sagebrush, clay-dirt, dust, grasses, and desperation at high elevation. Both have been HOT and DRY this summer, over 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
There will be very little artwork of mine in this post, but instead the artwork of some littles, a boy and a girl age 4 and another boy age 2.
I flew into Eugene and arrived to the small but festive town of Estacada on July 4th where fireworks and friends were there to greet me. It was a magical display of explosive and colorful night-time sky blooms. My friends' kiddos were there, some more excited than others as it was about 10pm. It was a fine start to the trip.
We stayed at Milo McIver State Park where the nearby Clackamas River allows for some very relaxed kayaking. We spent the next day checking out the water in inflatable kayaks and playing around with four-year-olds. We had a good time, finding all kinds of lovely things to look at and explore like fish, drippy waterfalls, floating wood, and the wonders of chili flavored fritos. All the kiddos have creative problem-solving and exploration skills. There is really nothing like littles to challenge my view of the world and to force me into a present-minded headspace.
One of the most insightful parts of my trip had to do with the ways in which children approach the world and other kids they haven't met before. We went to a beach where other families and friends were gathering, some were not native English speakers. The kids miraculously made friends with other kids in the same space without actually meeting. Instead they have common goals--to play! I suppose that adults can do this too, but it's funny how much less uncomfortable it is when people are coming together and sharing something with strangers. It's beautiful in that my good friends and I have known one another and been friends from between 25-30 years. It's not lost on me that such long-term relationships are really something unique, imperfect, and exceptionally meaningful. My heart is full knowing that two of my favorite people have made wonderful promises to the future through their children.
While we were doing arts and crafts together, I found that one of the four year old kiddos absolutely wants a flat and in-the-lines coloring option. The other four year old was not concerned with this kind of thing. The two year old, well, is two. Somehow through some amazing coordination by my friends colored an amazing birthday banner for me.
This was something of an amazing birthday for me, commemorated by this incredible banner of love and fun. Many thanks to everyone who made this possible and supported me through the trip. It's always a breath of life-affirming air to have littles in my life, blood-related or no.
On my way out, I stopped briefly to try and capture a sunset scene. Truth is, I have been neglecting my plein air painting skills terribly. I was very challenged by this attempt, and I got a good start but did not finish before I had to get to the airport. Better brush up on my skills, because it's going to be a busy summer!
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