Wedding Song - God Knew That I Needed You

Wednesday, March 31, 2021

PAST, PRESENT, & FUTURE

In my brief touchdown with FB this morning, I saw a notice of raw honey for sale.

I knew the people selling the honey; I knew the address.

When Bob had died in 1981, and was resurrected to a life of steadfast salvation … he was baptized in their swimming pool.

They owned and operated the Chevron Station in Cathlamet, along Ocean Beach Highway – between Mace’s Drive-In and Phil’s Hiway Mart. Bob did business there (for Durrah’s, as well as personal business), when Carricker’s Gas Station in Cathlamet closed up.

I remember when they lost their only son in a car wreck … and Marv, who owned a tow truck was called out to pull the car out of the ditch. As soon as he saw it, he realized it was his son’s car: and his son was dead. Dorothy was devasted.

Leaving Longview in the rear-view mirror, I was thinking on that past frame of time, when I happened to glance out the right-hand side of the windshield; and saw a beaver dam had recently been built in the wetland area along Ocean Beach Highway.

I enjoyed seeing that – the closest beaver dam sighting is up Spruce Creek; a spur off Mill Creek Road, further down the highway. A logging road at the end of Spruce Creek used to drop right into Cathlamet behind the golf course before it was gated on both ends, in the 1980’s. We drove that road a lot: I miss that.

Entering Cathlamet, I saw the burger shack, and nipped in there for a quick lunch.

Back Roadz hamburger shack.
The car really needs a washing ... the windows are in sad shape. Hopefully the weather will warm enough to get to that task.
I got a Chicken Burger.

When I PM’d Dorothy earlier about the honey, she didn’t recognize the name (and I didn’t bring it to her attention) – we’d been gone from Cathlamet for 2½ decades. When I showed up at the house, and she saw me, then she recognized me. She asked about Bob; and I told her Bob now lives in Heaven. She was sad to hear that news. As we walked to the garage, (where she has the honey stored in a warm cupboard, so the honey doesn’t crystalize), she asked if I was attending a church anywhere. I said no; not currently. She understood. She knows what it is like to piece a shattered life back together before engaging fully in life, again.

Elochoman Valley Raw Honey.

We talked of past times. We were never close friends; but we did know each other enough to have things in common to discuss.

We talked of the present – her husband has been in OHSU. She believes he had a bout with covid; though that has not been diagnosed. Marv’s health is still very fragile. They have been Senior Citizens for a long time. She is concerned for her husband in the present … and worried about the future.

Our situations are similar, and the circumstances are different; but we talk the same language.

She asked me if I had moved back to Cathlamet: I said I live now in Longview (and have for 25 years), and I am making Longview my home. There is nothing recognizable to me in Cathlamet, now. There is no pull to lure me back. Bob was my tie to Cathlamet; and he is no longer walking among us. Except for Bob, I was always an outsider in that clannish river hamlet.

After I had stashed the honey jars in the car, I decided to drive to Skamokawa to find the ‘Inn at Crippen Creek’ … and I did; at the end of Middle Valley Road.

The Inn at Crippen Creek Farm ... I think I'll give this a “pass”.
Middle Valley Road, Skamokawa.

I couldn’t spend time there: there are memories connected with that place, that aren’t good ones: the memories do not affect me personally – but it was tragic for bio-father’s family. I just couldn’t … that creek would bring all those memories to the forefront of my thoughts, and I would not have a relaxing, or enjoyable time.

So …

I turned the car homeward.

And drove through Cathlamet, along the way. I have no desire to move back there – but I can’t resist driving familiar territory. 20 years of my 64 years were happily spent there, before we sold and moved.

Cathlamet is basically a tourist town now, and the Marina is practically the sole town money-maker. And, it was buzzing with activity today! Every boat berth was full; every parking lot space was loaded with trucks hauling boats; and every RV spot was packed.

There was no activity, at all, on Main Street.

When I got back home, I opened the windows to let fresh, sunny air breeze through the rooms; and worked a bit on another baby blanket (my own design) before eating a light Supper. I was still kinda full from the chicken burger/fries I ate around noon. But it was 6 PM, and I didn’t want churning stomach acids from an empty stomach to keep me up all night long: I ate a light supper.

Tonight's Supper. Roast Turkey breast, salad w-peas, carrots; peach slices. *A low-calorie French Salad Dressing recipe follows..

==LOW-CAL FRENCH DRESSING ~ About ½ cup

Soak: 1 teaspoon Gelatin in 1 Tablespoon cold Water or Tomato Juice

Gelatin and tomato juice.

Dissolve it in: ¼ cup boiling Water

Gelatin mixture dissolved in hot water.

Add: 1 Tablespoon Sugar & ½ teaspoon Sea salt

Cool mixture.

Add: 1 teaspoon grated Lemon rind * ¼ cup Lemon Juice * 1/8 teaspoon prepared Mustard * ¼ teaspoon Paprika * A few grains powdered Cayenne pepper * 1/8 teaspoon ground Black Pepper * ¼ teaspoon Onion Juice * 1/8 teaspoon Curry powder

Spices & parsley added.

Shake the dressing. Chill it. Before serving, beat well with a wire beater. Add, if you wish: 2 Tablespoons minced Parsley & 1 tablespoon minced Chives.

This light meal was filling.

Tonight, 2021 years ago, Yeshua was given a Judas Kiss, following supper.

He, and his disciples were gathered together in the Upper Room, celebrating the Passover festivities – and Yeshua was initiating the very first Communion, that Christians still observe, in these days.

Upper Room in Jerusalem.
Last Supper memorial with Yeshua; Luke 22:1-38.
Last Supper meaning; the road to Zion's in your heart. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFHX55W6mSQ)

Following the last supper he would ever eat on earth, Yeshua went to a garden in Gethsemane to pray … and was betrayed by Judas. Yeshua knew the betrayal was coming; and He was prepared when the soldiers came to arrest him.

Jesus prayed in the Garden; Luke 22:39-46.

His arrest and trial went very quickly: he was tried, sentenced, hung, buried, and resurrected from Wednesday to Sunday’s timeframe.

And through it all, Yeshua showed compassion, and exampled kindness towards those who used and abused Him.

Luke 22:48-51.

The life, teaching, examples, and acceptance of Yeshua towards those (and me), are what helps me go through my time of lonesome sorrowing – past, present, and future.

I am thankful knowing He walks beside me, every step of the unfamiliar way – where the only certainty is that He is.