Skip to content

Jack Falls

January 1, 2008
tags: , , ,
Just before coming into Rainier from the south, there is a road called Jack Falls Road. I like the name. In my mind it conjures us images of an old hermit living on the banks of the Columbia, ekeing out a living in the woods. It never occured to me that there were actually water falls along here though.
Just last week I was surprised to discover a beautiful set of falls tucked far enough off of the road to missed by the casual observer, but close enough to be enjoyed at 50mph.
I now have a reason to go exploring – just 3 miles from home.
Exploring is one of my greatest pass times. There is nothing like spending a day wandering in the woods. Prepared for anything, with no deadlines to constrain me, I’ll head into the woods to

discover whatever secrets are contained there. I’ve found old homes, some farmer’s mini toxic waste dump, abandoned cars, the remains of a long dead animal, and countless beauties undiscovered by more pedestrian travelers.

As I wander the woods, my mind wanders. Dreams, visions, hopes, fears – it is all put into perspective. This is the way life was meant to be lived. Just over 100 years ago we lived life at a slower pace. A trip to Portland was an all day excursion. Either on horseback, or by boat, a man had time to think, to socialize, and to wander.
N0w, with the advent of rapid transit, I can make the trip to PDX and back in the morning, eat breakfast on the way, and catch up on my phone calls during the trip. It’s no wonder everyone is on their cell on Highway 30 – they’re trying to regain the socialization of travelers in times past.
I long for a time I’ve never experienced. A slow trip to town that allows me to process and prioritize life. A time to talk with my neighbors and a time to discover the landscape. A time to meditate and a time to converse with my Creator. I wonder how much differently Jack Falls would look at walking speed – as opposed to being enclosed in my steel and glass cacoon at 50+ mph?
Comments Off on Jack Falls
from → Thoughts

30 Minutes on Highway 30

December 22, 2007
tags: , , , ,


I never thought I would miss commuting. 30 years ago I used to commute from Boring, OR to Beaverton – a thirty minute drive at the time. Then I would rush home after work, and risk my life crossing the Interstate Bridge into Vancouver to see my fiance’.

Then I went off to grad school and lived five minutes from campus, moved to Rock Springs, WY and worked out of a home office. After a few years in Colorado Springs, I’m back in the PNW and I have a 30 minute commute again. From Rainier to Scappoose is about 30 minutes. As a registered introvert, I’ve found that I need a commute and I need time to process life. I’ve found that quality, quantity, quiet time (QT3) is better than drugs and other mind altering events. I missed my commute time.

Where I used to use the commute time to fill my mind with thoughts of sex and drugs through rock’n roll, I now find music a bit boring and I seek greater inspiration and progress through mental stimulation. Between podcasts, Twitter, Jotts, the inspirational beauty of the Lower Columbia River, and my own wandering mind, many thoughts come to mind. Now, from the magic of technology, I can post those thoughts for future recall and public display. Of course not all posts will be real, relevant, or enlightening – but at least I won’t lose them to the fog of a deteriorating mind and increasingly short-term memory loss.

Comments Off on 30 Minutes on Highway 30
from → Thoughts

Stress

October 30, 2007
tags:

Don’t ever move cross country with a new born. It isn’t good for the soul and it doesn’t help one’s quest for serenity.

Comments Off on Stress
from → Thoughts
« Older Entries
Newer Entries »