What A Week It's Been

Well there's been a lot happening this past week. It all happens so quick and you don't know what or how to think.

One moment you're in an airport, the next moment you're in a hospital room seeing your kid brother hooked up to a machine to keep his body breathing, the next moment you're meeting family you haven't seen since you were barely walking. 

It's been great to get back to Pennsylvania and Virginia. These worlds are just fragmented memories to me.

I've reconnected with family I haven't spoke to in probably 20 years.

I learned my Great Grandma on my Grandpa's side was 100% Swedish! Ironic because that's the only European country that I feel an urgency and see.

I've learned about the Thompson's. That's my Grandma's maiden name, and they seem to be where my mom's "wild hare" gene comes from. It's quite fascinating actually.

And that's just the start of it...

But now I need to get up off the couch and put some presentable clothes on. Aunt Mag is on her way over and we are going to pick up Dalton's ashes. I need to finish this coffee so I can talk real sentences. 

I miss you, Dalton. I really do. It's been good to head back to the East Coast. I can see why the forefathers were enchanted by these lands but I'm ready to return to my world in Cascadia. The land of giant trees, rivers, and mountains that damn near touch the sky. 

Here are some of the pictures from around my Pennsylvania and Virginia adventurings. 

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Take Me There

If there's a place beyond the city lights; where the car's hum can't be heard

No airplanes above, only the songs being sung by birds

I want to go there.

That's where I need to be. To see what life was like before humanity.

I don't hate man; sometimes there's just too much noise. 

I love rock n' roll but you don't know music until you've stood face to face with a giant waterfall. 

I just want to escape for a little while to know it can be done.

Just for a little while then I'll return. 

They say " you just want to die". Nothing is further from the truth.

It's this search for freedom that makes me feel alive.  

I need to feel scared; to know something greater still wanders out there. 

Beyond the concrete forest and the man made caves. 

I know I'm not the only one who wonders.

I just need to escape the machines.

To run with the wild if only for a while. 

If there's truly a place beyond the city lights; where the car's hum can't be heard that's where I want to go. 

Quit trying to stop me; this fox isn't dumb. 

Today (Well... Yesterday's) Adventurings

1. Bought groceries. Way overdue. 
2. Bought sheets for my bed finally. They are purple. I like purple. 
3. Successfully got the interwebs turned on at my new apartment.  
4. Read more on Thomas Jefferson. Damn he is awesome. 
5. Received my new debit card in the mail! Now to acquire a new ID. 

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY WENT TO THE COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE WITH JACKIE AND CAMERON!!!! We went up to Vista House. The view from up there was spectacular. Just amazing!

Then we continued driving the Columbia River Highway and ran into Latourell Falls. We frolicked around in the waters of this mighty giant for a while.

I love Oregon so much. Nothing compares to tracking through mud and rocks to stand/sit in the presence of something so majestic.

Nature is so amazing. And powerful, too. I really wanted to get closer to it but the wind and mist kept pushing me back. It feels so good to feel so small sometimes. I bet it was amazing to come across these places before concrete paved the way. 

After a few minor stops along the way we made our way to The Bridge Of The Gods that crosses over into Washington. I've wanted to cross that bridge since I started researching Oregon a few years ago.

After that we sat on the riverbank and had sandwiches and BERRIES I picked. It was a quick but very magical trip indeed. But alas the day has been long and tomorrow starts in about 4 hours so I must zone out to some Radiohead now.