Stay on your own side!
I've thought it countless times: Stay on your own side!
Despite its remote location, the road to Big Creek is a two lane road. Countless drivers treat it, however, like a one lane road. That might not be too bad except for the very dangerous reality of SO. MANY. BLIND. CURVES. You know, those curves you can't see around. The ones that completely restrict your view of oncoming traffic. The curves that could mean someone straddling the double yellow line could kill you, or at the very least, do irreparable damage.
When I first starting working in Big Creek, I learned about the Canyon Road, or Million Dollar Mile. It's a stretch of road that grapples to hug the side of the mountain and takes a traveler into what used to be known as Mid-Canyon, a midway point along the Big Creek hydroelectric generation project. It's narrow (in most spots) and very narrow in others. There is no double yellow line.
The first time I traveled this road I was passenger to driver, Joel Preheim. He'd been on this road more times than he could ever calculate. He gave me some timeless advice. He told me to always look ahead, at whatever portion of the road I could see, always, always anticipate a car coming around the next bend, and be ready to back up when necessary.
To this day, this is how I travel the Big Creek road - windy, with many blind curves, despite having the double yellow line, I look ahead to the black asphalt I can see and always, always anticipate what might be ahead of me.
Life can be like that - windy, with many blind curves, having a double yellow line. Oncoming traffic that doesn't always stay on their side. Someone who straddles that line, coming straight for you, who could cause damage to you.
Joel's advice still applies: Look ahead, anticipate what might be around the next bend, and be ready to back up. You may not be able to see very far ahead but be prepared for someone who crosses the line and tries to travel in your lane. We may need to back up (have we crossed someone else's line?). Quick reflexes (and a quicker wit) could be what saves you. That, and staying on your own side!
Thursday, April 27, 2017
Friday, February 10, 2017
37 Things
Sometimes you think you know someone. Sometimes you wish you knew someone. However, you could spend a lifetime with another human being and there would still be blanks to fill in.
Thirty-seven (37) things:
1. I like to eat stewed tomatoes out of the can. Corn, too.
2. I was afraid of the dark when I was a kid.
3. I thought I would be a better parent.
4. When I was in third grade, I wanted to be a writer when I grew up.
5. I love (the look of) old books.
6. My sister took piano lessons as a kid. My favorite grandpa loved to hear her play. I started playing the flute in elementary school because I wanted to please him. The high notes hurt his ears.
7. I find fog comforting.
8. Tarantulas creep me out.
9. Art Deco rocks.
10. I am very picky about the knives I own, maybe because I used to imagine someone stabbing me from beneath my bed.
11. I like to weed.
12. I really wanted to be voted Most Likely to Succeed in high school. Sharon Takata won.
13. Chocolate and caramel is one of my favorite combinations.
14. I do not like sleepovers.
15. I watch when they stick the needle in my arm to draw blood.
16. My grandma used to give my sister and me Buttered Rum Life Savers in church.
17. I think bacon is becoming overused.
18. I used to imagine all sorts of tragedies happening to myself. I've always wondered why.
19. I like Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells from The Exorcist.
20. I've never seen the movie The Exorcist.
21. I attended a cocaine party. (No, I was NOT a participant.)
22. I want a tattoo but can't decide what or where.
23. I like tiny houses.
24. I love a drum cadence.
25. Clouds are amazing and unique works of art. Rocks, too.
26. One of my greatest desires is to sing well.
27. I love the smell of horses.
28. M.A.S.H. is one of the best series EVER. N.C.I.S. is second best.
29. I hate my lack of self-control.
30. I abhor dusting.
31. I like to iron.
32. I hate 80s music.
33. I take my coffee strong and black.
34. I love Chinese food.
35. Mmm. Barbecued steak fat.
36. I wish I could participate in the Amazing Race.
37. I'm older than my mom was when she died.
Thirty-seven (37) things:
1. I like to eat stewed tomatoes out of the can. Corn, too.
2. I was afraid of the dark when I was a kid.
3. I thought I would be a better parent.
4. When I was in third grade, I wanted to be a writer when I grew up.
5. I love (the look of) old books.
6. My sister took piano lessons as a kid. My favorite grandpa loved to hear her play. I started playing the flute in elementary school because I wanted to please him. The high notes hurt his ears.
7. I find fog comforting.
8. Tarantulas creep me out.
9. Art Deco rocks.
10. I am very picky about the knives I own, maybe because I used to imagine someone stabbing me from beneath my bed.
11. I like to weed.
12. I really wanted to be voted Most Likely to Succeed in high school. Sharon Takata won.
13. Chocolate and caramel is one of my favorite combinations.
14. I do not like sleepovers.
15. I watch when they stick the needle in my arm to draw blood.
16. My grandma used to give my sister and me Buttered Rum Life Savers in church.
17. I think bacon is becoming overused.
18. I used to imagine all sorts of tragedies happening to myself. I've always wondered why.
19. I like Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells from The Exorcist.
20. I've never seen the movie The Exorcist.
21. I attended a cocaine party. (No, I was NOT a participant.)
22. I want a tattoo but can't decide what or where.
23. I like tiny houses.
24. I love a drum cadence.
25. Clouds are amazing and unique works of art. Rocks, too.
26. One of my greatest desires is to sing well.
27. I love the smell of horses.
28. M.A.S.H. is one of the best series EVER. N.C.I.S. is second best.
29. I hate my lack of self-control.
30. I abhor dusting.
31. I like to iron.
32. I hate 80s music.
33. I take my coffee strong and black.
34. I love Chinese food.
35. Mmm. Barbecued steak fat.
36. I wish I could participate in the Amazing Race.
37. I'm older than my mom was when she died.
Monday, February 6, 2017
Last Days 1
This morning I decided to post my portable dishwasher for sale; when we move, I will no longer need it. Another Big Creek local read the post and commented "moving?" Later, a dear friend and sister-in-Christ told me how she'd been perusing some recipes and came across some I'd passed on to her; she remarked how she was going to miss me when we moved. For a while now, I've been thinking about starting this mini-series, Last Days. I realized, the time to write was right.
I've moved about 16 times in my life. I'm not crazy about the process. Mostly, I think, I really abhor being faced to deal with (i.e., pack) all my 'stuff.' I know I have way too much stuff and I know I don't need half of what I have....but I struggle parting with all that is familiar.
For the second consecutive year - the first year being largely unsuccessful - I've start a 13-week, 91-day decluttering challenge. As I come across items I'm convinced still have value, I'm posting them for sale. The proceeds will go toward the cost of our move. Thus, the dishwasher post. Have some dirty dishes?!
Another sacrifice to moving will be the camaraderie I have, on occasion, greatly enjoyed and benefited from. My neighbors have watched after and over my kids, and I have done so with theirs. If I or a neighbor needs 3 Tablespoons of dark rum or Hoisin sauce, someone can probably come up with it. "Have you seen my kid?" has been posted more than once on our local FB page. Warnings about road conditions frequently surface to keep our neighbors safe coming into or going out of our tiny community.
I've been in Big Creek 9 years. A great deal has happened in that near-decade. We've had plenty, we've been in want; we've survived each. The seasons have been clearly defined, something I've come to savor. This winter, as the snow has abundantly graced the mountainsides, I have wistfully cherished each flake, relished driving the snow-covered roads, enjoyed the beauty of the heavy-laden trees, and delighted in the crystal shimmers of the sun playing off the freshly fallen snow - this may be the Last Day I experience a mountain snowfall such as this from my front window.
Only the Lord knows the number of our days and the paths before us. May He continue to guide and provide in our Last Days.
I've moved about 16 times in my life. I'm not crazy about the process. Mostly, I think, I really abhor being faced to deal with (i.e., pack) all my 'stuff.' I know I have way too much stuff and I know I don't need half of what I have....but I struggle parting with all that is familiar.
For the second consecutive year - the first year being largely unsuccessful - I've start a 13-week, 91-day decluttering challenge. As I come across items I'm convinced still have value, I'm posting them for sale. The proceeds will go toward the cost of our move. Thus, the dishwasher post. Have some dirty dishes?!
Another sacrifice to moving will be the camaraderie I have, on occasion, greatly enjoyed and benefited from. My neighbors have watched after and over my kids, and I have done so with theirs. If I or a neighbor needs 3 Tablespoons of dark rum or Hoisin sauce, someone can probably come up with it. "Have you seen my kid?" has been posted more than once on our local FB page. Warnings about road conditions frequently surface to keep our neighbors safe coming into or going out of our tiny community.
I've been in Big Creek 9 years. A great deal has happened in that near-decade. We've had plenty, we've been in want; we've survived each. The seasons have been clearly defined, something I've come to savor. This winter, as the snow has abundantly graced the mountainsides, I have wistfully cherished each flake, relished driving the snow-covered roads, enjoyed the beauty of the heavy-laden trees, and delighted in the crystal shimmers of the sun playing off the freshly fallen snow - this may be the Last Day I experience a mountain snowfall such as this from my front window.
Only the Lord knows the number of our days and the paths before us. May He continue to guide and provide in our Last Days.
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