Just East of Eden : MEANINGFUL MONDAY ~ MCCORMICK PARK & Cornelius Pass

Tuesday, May 11, 2021

MEANINGFUL MONDAY ~ MCCORMICK PARK & Cornelius Pass

The sun made an appearance … and I pulled a slip of paper out of my ambitions jar.

Today's ‘happening’ ...

Exploring St. Helen's, OR.

McCormick Park, St. Helens, OR from Heron Pointe, WA - 39 mins.

Local advice was a little concerning - 12:21 noon.

Off I go ...

So far, everything is A-okay.

I'm liking this Park, straight off.

“It’s A Beautiful Morning”: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64uikGn-q3k)

The Park was well laid out.

It was a clean Park.

The hiking trail was a graveled 2-mile loop trail – it was fairly flat, and wider than a goat trail: very enjoyable.

There was a Frisbee Golf Course that intersected with the hiking trail, but everyone was courteous.

And friendly.

There were wildflowers in bloom everywhere.

But I did not need my inhaler.

And there were artistically painted garbage cans placed at intervals along the trail.

Tiny purple wildflowers.

Fringe cup saxifrage wildflower.
Tiny white daisies.

Blackberry brambles (large white blossoms) & wild strawberries (small white blossoms).
Thimbleberry blossoms.

Thimbleberry blossoms, closeup; & thimbleberry fruit; tart and velvety. Yummy!

Wild roses blossoms.

One of many artistic themed garbage cans. This could be a salamander - or a newt.
There were several more ... but these 4 are the best 'art work'.
Wild Bleeding Heart – I thought of Bob when I saw this flower.
A little forest hidey-hole.
An enjoyable way to walk my kardashian ass off. LOL.
This Park is a clean Park - very nice. I will be coming back here.

Scotch Broom - here there was quite a large patch of it.
Larkspur.

NW Trumpet honeysuckle vine.

Blue wild Iris; when I saw this Iris, my thoughts immediately went to my sister: who died in the Fall of 2019.

After I left the Park, the day was still young; so I thought I’d drive over Cornelius Pass and get something to eat at the Greek deli Bob and I enjoyed.

Heading towards Cornelius Pass.

Cornelius Pass from St. Helens - 24 minutes.

I was hoping the Mad Greek Deli was still operating.

At the top of Cornelius Pass, there was county landscaping going on; the wait was lengthy.

The backup was pretty long before me.

And pretty long behind me.

And the air was pungent with fir scent as overhanging trees were pruned, and the pruning’s were shredded: it smelled good.

Tears did not threaten; even though the smell of fresh cut fir trees will always remind me of Bob bringing that lingering scent home with him after work: in his hair, on his clothes, and dusting his skin … and laughingly dusting me with it, too; with a teasing shake of his head as he bent to kiss me while dropping his lunch pail on the counter and catching Stacey up for a group hug before the door was closed.

Today, the memories did not choke me, or squeeze my heart painfully.

What did threaten to choke me was what greeted my eyes as I turned off NW Germantown Road and drove down NW 185^th to NW Union.

I thought I had taken a wrong road!

There were HUGE housing developments on both sides of the roadway – and the 2-lane road was a 4-lane road with turnouts going every which-way.

I was feeling a little apprehensive and uncomfortable … when I suddenly spotted Albertson’s and started breathing easy again.

Albertson's from Cornelius Pass - 7 minutes.

I knew the Mad Greek Deli was at the junction of NW 185^th and NW Union.

When I made the corner, the deli wasn’t there: all there was, was a large gravel lot: there would be no delicious sandwich for me today – or any day, anymore.

Apparently, the deli had been torn down while Bob was in the hospital November of 2018.

https://pamplinmedia.com/bvt/15-news/411773-312256-iconic-mad-greek-deli-in-rock-creek-comes-down-friday-afternoon

And when I drove to the Albertson’s entrance … I really was beginning to feel lost: the entire Albertson’s parking lot had morphed into a Mall that spanned 4 blocks!

Everything was changed! And not for the better in MHO.

Albertson's parking lot has morphed into a citified Mall!

There must be 150 businesses here now.

It was too much to take in all at once.

Too much has changed since I was last there with Bob; and that wasn’t that long ago.

Since I was there, I decided to grab some things from Albertson’s that isn’t available in Longview. There used to be an Albertson’s store in Longview when Bob and I were first married, but I think it was gone shortly after Stacey was born. I always like Albertson’s baked goods, so I got some today before I left.

And then I sat in the car for a few minutes, regrouping my nerves.

I don’t like big cities – and big city sprawl unnerves me.

I kept telling myself, “Well, Val, you got here okay … you can get out of here okay, too.”

And I wanted Bob.

It is a want that will never again be satisfied.

I learned how to use the self-check; I don't like it.

The road crew was still at it, so I had plenty of time to sit and unwind.

I'm a country girl; this citified experience was overwhelming.

The backroad looks like downtown Portland, now.

I am upset that that relaxing country drive has been turned into a citified jungle nightmare, now.

When I got back to St. Helen’s, it was Suppertime; so, I started looking for somewhere to eat. Every restaurant I tried had closed doors – their signs said they were open for business from 10 AM to 8 PM … but the doors were locked.

I finally found a Mexican place that was open, so they got my business; and I got a good meal with friendly chit-chat 😉

This was the ONLY restaurant open for business, in St. Helen's; just up the street from the Park – where I started this morning.

DELISH! I will be eating here, again.