Forces of Nature in Everyday Ramblings
- Nov. 12, 2014, 3:45 p.m.
- |
- Public
Once when I was about 17 I went on this ill-fated camping trip with a roommate couple and a guy I didn’t know and my beloved Great Dane, Lucy. I was living independently by then and thought I was so grown up! Ha, Anyway, my woman roommate had heard there was a cabin out just off a particular beach on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington state.
We took sleeping bags and cooking stuff but no tent or shelter. We left late, as young folks are wont to do, and hiked through the rain forest in good spirits and full of a sense of adventure. When we hit the beautiful deserted beach we also hit a storm. Winds were gusting up to 60 mph (96.56 km/h). It was too late to turn back so we fought our way to the cabin.
Only it had burned down.
We spent a wet night in a lean to built out of driftwood and the one tarp that the unknown young man (who of course I fell in love with) had thought to bring.
It turns out the whole point of the trip was that my roommate had a crush on the mystery guy and wanted to spend time with him (even though she was coupled up with another of my roommates, the one that went on to be the world famous paleontologist.)
My current boyfriend at the time was in a minimum-security jail in Northern California on charges of trying to rob an antique store on Polk Street in San Francisco with a spoon. He had a heroin addiction. We wrote long angst filled letters to each other on brightly colored paper. I still have those letters in a box somewhere, both sides.
I just finished reading the first book in Lev Grossman’s Magician series and I had a lot of trouble with the long section after the young magicians graduated from Magic College and were at large in New York City with unlimited resources. Their entitlement, dissipation and whining were, umm, unattractive.
But it did lead me to think about that time in my life.
Back then that wind, fighting that wind, on that beach, was so elemental, so overwhelming I won’t forget it as long as I am able to keep my wits about me.
Last night walking up to the hospital we had wind gusts almost as strong. I literally thought I was going to be blown backwards. And there were folks attempting to ride bicycles in that. Kes tells me a big tree came down near my place and hit a bicyclist and a car. Luckily, everybody but the tree was relatively okay.
This scouring East Wind is freezing and it is like overnight we went from fall to winter so I am so glad I had the camera with me on Saturday to take the picture above.
The wind continues this afternoon. I hope we are able to maintain power. First world problem I know…
I find it fascinating how although we have so much in common, our day-to-day lives are so predicated on the weather where we are. Mood and affect, navigation and logistics, communication and flexibility are all in play based on these elemental forces.
It is so hard waiting for Carlo and Diego. I fret. Are there going to be logistical issues getting them home, problems with the adoption, behavioral problems (none could be any more difficult than Sam) or any number of other things that could go wrong are all conjured up in my vivid imagination…
Bring them on! Only two more days. Deep breath in, deep breath out.
Last updated November 12, 2014
ODSago ⋅ November 12, 2014
Isn't it wonderful that life folds back and reveals our younger selves to us as we move forward? Wind like that is memorable, not often here except in hurricanes. I was in that kind of wind in the northwest once, and had to hold on to the street signs at stop lights on crossings. Still remember the body in shock at that. You're adopting kitties? I think that's what you refer to here, and how wonderful for you if so.
noko ODSago ⋅ November 12, 2014
Yes! Two year old brother cats full of energy.
ODSago noko ⋅ November 12, 2014
How busy you will be, and those great meows from the brothers will be keeping you company for ages now. My friend T took in a pregnant mama cat a few years ago...now she has left three of the old guys who were the kittens and they are real monarchs. Just walking up to doors and awaiting them opened, sunning...they amuse me no end.
Lyn ⋅ November 12, 2014
It was mid 60s here yesterday, today may not even reach 40. I hear you on the fall to winter over night. (I enjoyed your cabin story.)
So exciting that Diego and Carlo will soon be HOME! I look forward to hearing how it goes.
Zipster ⋅ November 12, 2014
I know this may sound strange, but I sometimes long for your kind of weather. Robbing an antique store with a spoon, forgive me, made me laugh out loud. One would hope that they put him in rehab.
I think because they have each other their move will be easier. I know it won't take them long to love you.
Lyn ⋅ November 12, 2014
Just read this article in one of my newsletters and thought you might be interested too:
http://www.futurity.org/cats-genome-domestication-800862/
noko Lyn ⋅ November 12, 2014
Thanks. I knew most of this from the book Cat Sense: How the New Feline Science Can Make You a Better Friend to Your Pet by John Bradshaw. Still it is interesting to know how they did the science he refers to.
Deleted user ⋅ November 12, 2014
Someone here robbed a fast food shop with tongs, I think it was. I suspect addiction. I've had similar weather in some places, but you have an additional chill factor. It can be exhilarating, though. After Sammy, I'd imagine nothing much will phase you.
seedys ⋅ November 12, 2014
I have been listening to the wind howl, growl and gust all day. Ferocious sounding wind. I haven't even poked my head out the door.
Deleted user ⋅ November 16, 2014
Wind here in Illinois is a pretty constant issue. I don't mind it except for the tornados and straight line winds. Since we had the shelter built I have pretty much conquered my fear of it all ... I read once that the wind blowing across the prairies settling into the sod houses of the settlers and during the dust bowl years drove women to suicide. The howling noise, the dirt and being isolated from socialization were supposedly the factors that pushed them over the edge.
I liked " The Magicians" and wrote Grossman a letter telling him so . I was pleasantly surprised that he wrote back thanking me ! His second book of the series was disappointing to me . I could not even finish it :-(
Cats just fascinate me. I could easily be a cat lady if they did not make so much mess. My four keep me cleaning non- stop. I would like one more kitten though. Frank says, " No !". :-(
edna million ⋅ November 26, 2014
You really really need to write a book about your adventures! The boyfriend who tried to rob an antique store with a spoon and ended up in jail especially needs to be in a book. With Rose??