This Christmas began in “2011 style” meaning that only the unexpected would happen. We were driving down dark back country highways with no moonlight, laughing and talking about an M83 song that we both liked. Brian told me to download it (on the new iPhone 4s he gave me 2 days prior) so, I excitedly pulled up iTunes on my shiny new iPhone. I was just about to hit play when brian slammed on the breaks and my heart stopped. (Flash back to 6 months ago on Memorial day – us getting hit by an 18-wheeler.) I looked up from my phone as Brian was ferociously pumping the breaks of his big GMC truck about 1/2 a second before a truck headed towards us turning across our lane crashed into the front of our truck. Everything went quiet except for the sound of crushing metal. I blacked out for a couple seconds. After everything had calmed down and I could take a breathe, it all just came flooding back into my brain. I remember the sound of Brian trying to avoid the impact, pumping the breaks, the impact from the other truck on the front/driver’s side, going down into a ditch to our right, coming back out of the ditch, ending up in a muddy field. Thankfully we could move. George ended up at the dashboard, practically in the cup holders. Presents and dirt from a plant I was going to give to my mom was everywhere in the cab of the truck. It all happend in less than 5 seconds.
The next thing I remember is turning around to assess the damage/accident/where the heck we ended up and seeing the at-fault guy jack knife his Ford truck and trailer, correct it, and speed off with chunks of his truck missing. Oh, if you could have heard me yelling out of shock/confusion. Brian had to shove his driver side door open & took off running towards him. By this time there were about 4 cars surrounding the wreck. Ok, good. Someone will stop to help us as a witness. Nope. NO ONE stopped to help us. WHO DOES THAT?! 2 days before Christmas and you witness an extremely violent hit & run wreck and NO ONE stops to help?! I couldn’t help it. I immediately burst into tears. Sure, I was grateful we just bypassed a telephone pole by a mere 2 feet at 70 mph. I was grateful we weren’t badly injured (just a few scrapes and bruises & a sore back). I was grateful our sweet dog, George, was ok. I was grateful for our big metal truck that probably saved our lives (for the second time). But everything in me was beyond frustrated that only 6 months ago we went through a big mess of a wreck, no truck for almost 2 months, dealing with all the ridiculous insurance crap, countless chiropractor doctor visits, the tension between Brian and I regarding all that mess. We had a nicely repaired perfectly good truck back for 4 months before this. Less than 2 months ago we paid off the truck by the Grace of God. Now this?! What could God possibly want us to learn from this… we just went through it?! I tried to block out these selfish “human” thoughts, but I couldn’t help it. Brian heard me crying and came running. “Honey, we’re ok… we’re ok… that’s all that matters, we’re ok.” I just covered my face and cried as he tried to console me. George was practically trying to curl up in my lap at the same time.
Brian called the police as I called my mom (who lived only 5-10 miles away from the wreck). Brian returns to the car with the best gift. The guy’s license plate was practically shaved off in the impact. Finally, a break!! Thank the good Lord, the cop that was dispatched to us caught the guy who hit us! Turns out the guy was drunk.
Over a course of a year, the Lord has plucked things from my life I think to pull me closer to Him. I’ve never thought of myself as a really materialistic or worldly person, but I’ve learned the hard way that I do rely on and put my hope in the creation and not the creator. He is placing me in the middle of certain circumstances to show me that HE is in control. HE is my hope, my protector, my savior. Circumstances will never change that. He’s taken some of my worst fears and placed me smack dab in the middle of them to show me that I CAN go through difficult trials if I lean on Him. People and things will always disappoint. The Lord will not. His timing and provisions are ridiculously better than I could ever imagine. It’s just a daily battle to remind myself of this. I’m slowly learning.
Anyway, here’s a quick snap of the aftermath of Wreck #2 of 2011. These photos don’t do it justice. This truck is seriously one tough piece of metal. For such a violent wreck, we expected the truck to be completely crushed. Thanks, GMC. There’s also a photo of the path a couple days later with the ditches filled from 2 days of rain. Crazy that we went exactly in between that telephone pole & wooden sign. I don’t like to think about all the “what ifs”…if we were in a smaller car, if Brian had turned the wheel 1 degree more, if the ditch had been dry dirt instead of soft mud to soften the impact, etc… We are very blessed.
It’s the one time of year that we usually all get to see each other. We never know who’s going to be at which parent’s house for the upcoming Christmas or Thanksgiving, but we can count on seeing each other at the beach each summer.
Every Summer my Grandma “Gammy” rents a beach house somewhere on the Texas coast – usually near Galveston or Surfside. For the past couple of years we’ve stayed in Surfside. It’s a tiny beach town that’s pretty run down, but does the job. The prettiest waters and coolest attractions don’t matter… as long as we can spend time together as a family (usually around food). The beach seemed extra clean this year for some reason. We were in an extra large house, too. Since most of the grandkids are grown-ups now (some of us married with kids, with the exception of 2 still in college), it’s difficult to get us all together for a week. Therefore, the majority of the grandkids only stayed for the first weekend- which included Brian and me. We were all sad to miss our cousin, Kayla, who drove in a couple hours after we left that Sunday afternoon.
This year our time consisted of long walks on the beach (no joke) catching up with each other’s lives across the past year while the water lapped at our feet, and enjoying good laughs over delicious homemade meals (specifically Gammy’s famous cheese rolls). We’ve each grown and changed so much, while still remaining the same at heart. I love my cousins so much. I wish we could get together like this more often.
You can view the entire album here on Flickr.
Here are some of my fav’s.
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We just finished hiking up (and back down) Multnomah Falls outside of Portland. We were exhausted, snacking on fresh fruit from the farmer’s market back in Portland earlier that morning. We drove back through Portland after our hike on our way to Astoria, Oregon…. a place I’ve wanted to visit since I was a kid. I was finally going to get to check it off my bucket list. I really enjoyed the city of Portland, but I’m a small town girl at heart and this was just the place for me. A tiny port town on the Pacific Coast at the mouth of the Colombia River. Does it get much better? Yes. The Goonies (among other movies) was filmed in the area. If anyone knows me, they know I LOVE the Goonies. It’s my favorite childhood movie and I can quote it to you in my sleep.
We drove through windy roads bordered with towering trees and forests until it finally opened up to the mouth of the Colombia River as we drove past the Warrington Bridge that connects Astoria, Oregon to Washington. We continued on through a tiny romantic town before arriving at our Bed and Breakfast. Brian looked at me as we’re driving through the town, which at the time (because it was a week night) looked a little desserted and boring, and said “I bet you the average age of people visiting here is 45-50 years old.” I just laughed because that would be the kind of place I’d like to visit. I’m an old lady at heart.
Let me just say that I’d return to Astoria in a heart beat. Brian was also ready to pack up and move to Oregon by the end of our stay. Although, we visited at the perfect time of year. More often than not it’s drizzly and a bit gloomy during part of the day, except for a few weeks during the Summer and Fall. We were in Astoria during July 4th weekend. We stayed at the perfect place, The Rose River Inn. It was beyond perfection for my ideal bed & breakfast. It was positioned on a hill just a block above downtown. We had the corner room upstairs which was wall-to-wall windows that overlooked the Colombia River and part of downtown Astoria. Pam and her husband, who own/run it, were so friendly and helpful. They also had the cutest little pup, Penny. Breakfast was served family style every morning at 8:30 sharp. We met some other folks (yes they were all 40+) from all over the world. It was actually pretty neat. We normally keep to ourselves on vacation, so this was a bit different for us (good different).
While in Astoria, we took it pretty slow and relaxed (my ideal ending to a vacation). The town is so rich in history and old family tales. We of course, visited the Goonies house, the Oregon Film Museum (housed in the old jail – which was also a film site for the Goonies), purchased some local food and hand painted prints at the Sunday Market, ate at Astoria Coffee House (twice b.c it was so unique & delicious), slept with our windows open!, walked along the waterfront, drove up to the Astoria Column (amazing 360 degree views), dined at Baked Alaska on the waterfront while the sunset, and watched fireworks on the pier from our bedroom.
One afternoon we drove down to Cannon Beach (also film site of the Goonies) with the famous Haystack Rock and hiked at Ecola State Park. Wow. Now this is my kind of state park. No joke, I felt like I was in FernGully. Trees that were hundreds of years old surrounded us, Lewis and Clark ventured through the same area! I even saw a creature that I’d never seen before… maybe a ferret ? There were natural creeks all around us, muddy trails that we trekked through. It was beautiful. The beginning & end of the trail started at a beautiful beach just a couple miles down from Haystack Rock. There were families and dogs running along the beach in front of us while huge cliffs and forests were at our backs. Peaceful may have described it.
The Oregon coast is beyond romantic. There’s a reason why so many movies have been filmed there.
Below are some of my favorites from the Astoria area. You can view the entire album here on Flickr.
Categories: Travel
Tags:Astoria,Cannon Beach,Coast,Colombia River,Ecola State Park,Oregon
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