I woke up about 7:30 AM, this morning; and “St. Helen’s” ran through my mind before my eyes were even fully open … and I tried to put the thought off after I rubbed the sandman residue out of my eyes, and got up out of bed.
I ate breakfast/made the bed/swept the floors – but the thought was still with me at 9:30; so, I shrugged and thought ‘why not? Just do it Val, and see what the day gives you’ … I got dressed and hit the road.
The temperature as a sun-kissed 41-degrees when I got into the car and drove out of the Park; and the talking head on the radio was promising sunny days climbing into the 60’s until Thursday evening.
The day was looking very good, and the week appeared very promising 😉
Crossing the bridge and jumping the border into Oregon, I started getting excited: I was so ready for a day spent out of home and on the road! I’ve been hiking all the local trails, but I have been chomping at the bit for a lengthy drive and a change of scenery 😊
The roads were free of ice, and storm-blown debris – thank God. Traffic was light, too.
When I reached St. Helen’s, I did a little shopping: Spring themed things at the Dollar Store (the Dollar Store here, at home, carries a different stock of items) – and yarn at the Wal*Mart across the highway (a $7 difference in price, for the exact same yarn). I also bought a stackable shelving unit (I found out at checkout that it was on sale: score!): I know how to put this together … no tools required 😉
Glancing out the windshield as I slid into the driver’s seat, in the Dollar Store parking lot; I saw the snowy sides of Washington’s Mt. Saint Helens, in the distance … and I didn’t cry when I thought of Bob logging that mountain’s timber, on and off, throughout the years of his adult life – and the many afternoons we spent enjoying the volcano before her 1980 eruption.
My heart is on the mend.
Feeling pleased with my personal progress, and my frugal bargains; and enjoying the sunny warmth of the day as I headed the car towards home … I caught a glimpse of cars parked in the parking lot of Noi’s Thai Kitchen Restaurant.
On impulse, I flicked my turn signal on and decided to join the car lineup 😊
Bob and I had always wanted to try this restaurant – but it was never open for business when we passed through St. Helens (we always missed the ‘open for business’ time slot); it was open today, and I was not going to pass up this opportunity!
Perhaps this was the reason getting to St. Helen’s today, was impressed heavily on my thoughts this morning …
I am so glad the restaurant was open this afternoon: the food was delish! And I ate it without tearing up, thinking of how much Bob would have enjoyed the place if he were still here. I like our local Thai restaurant too, but the food here was of a different flavor – I will definitely be stopping at Noi’s again when I am in that neck of the woods 😊
The drive back home was considerably warmer (I was regretting the sweater I wore), as the temperature had climbed to 59-degrees by the time I passed through Rainer; heading towards the bridge to pass back into WA, around 1:30 PM.
When I parked the car at home, I stuck the Dollar Store scroll-shaped-wire trellises in my potted roses, for updated support; kicked my shoes off when I got inside the house, and stashed the yarn skeins in my dwindling stockpile … then I portioned my delicious Thai meals into freezer pans: I am serious about shedding some more pounds – but I like to eat delicious food, too 😉
Today was a good day, all the way around.
I am glad Spring has arrived … and Daytripping will be happening again; I have missed my road romances 😊
