ACTION-PACKED DAY

Today was my Thursday Naselle Coffee Hour … so, I was up bright and early.

Longview to Naselle - 1 hr.10 mins.

Passing through Cathlamet towards Skamokawa, I noticed there were a lot of loaded logging trucks passing me in the opposite lane: I was wondering where they were coming from; they were following pretty close together, so I knew the logging site must be fairly close.

And it was – I was driving along, listening to Roddy Crowell (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiTqnpmPKRk&list=OLAK5uy_k0AxexO6cz9s1EMsZGw__lVzwWkuuIF3g) sing contemplative songs; when suddenly I was startled by a shovel operator in action, swinging the grips towards the highway: a little too close for comfort.

I was shown where the trucks hailed from: up close and personal.

Things had changed on this stretch of the highway since Sunday.

Shovel operating on a small scale (YouTube Vid): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmFgLkUdY9c

I decided, on the spot, to reroute my home route; following the coffee hour 😉

Logging on the downside of the KM.

It was a good country hour where coffee flowed, conversation was spiked with howling belly-laughs, and chocolate cake was enjoyed 😊

Driving through Pe Ell on the way home, I noticed a new addition to the little backcountry town…

New Cafe in Pe Ell; Tin Snug: 217 N Main St, Pe Ell, WA https://tinsnug.com/

MAP Tin Snug Cafe in Pe Ell from Naselle, WA; 1 hr. 15 mins via Raymond-Menlo.

Gaelic window design; the Celtic knot.

Heron Point from Tin Snug Irish Cafe, Pe Ell - 1 hr. 11 mins; via Boistfort & Wildwood Road.

Leaving Pe Ell, and driving along the roadway between Pe Ell and Boistfort, I came upon a family of deer, leisurely walking the roadside.

While I was watching the deer, birds on the wing were darting about the passenger side window … so I started easing the car forward to evade the dive bombers.

That small stretch of road was filled with action. 

Mama Deer & twin fawns.

Bad Company Album: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHdLk0hXeDE&list=PLrpyDacBCh7AaQbdD8PhgfpnEVXE5eC9E

It was here that I received a phone call inviting me to Supper on Coal Creek – I accepted, and told my friends there, I’d be pulling into their drive around 3 PM.

As the convo was ended, I thought about how various friends, in various places, had blessed my life this week: David invited me to breakfast Monday … and surprised me with his son, Tavis – who was also joining us for breakfast: I had not seen Tavis since his mother’s Celebration of Life gathering 16 years ago. Marla was my best friend for three decades, and our kids grew up together – it was a good surprise David sprung on me 😊 This Thursday, I was blessed twice by different friends in different counties: noon coffee hour in Pacific County … and Supper in Cowlitz County.

I am truly blessed, and always thankful for the friends Elohei has gifted my life with.

Our friendships are love in action. 

Just before I was dropping onto Coal Creek Road from Delameter Road, I saw a damaged car in the right-side-ditch.

Car wreck coming into Coal Creek off top of Delameter.

Apparently, someone else had an action-packed day, too.

Supper on Coal Creek (I arrived slightly before 3 PM) was enjoyable, as always.

I like that my married friends out Coal Creek Road, invite me into their family nucleus and treat me like a loved family member – there is no pretense of perfect family unity; there is no uncomfortableness when Bob’s Name is mentioned; conversation flows easily-joking is encouraged-love is present; laughter is the theme of their family – they are a family that laughs: I like that. I like that I am included in their family, as one of the family.

The best kind of action is the action of love in action. 

My day today, was all of that … and more 😊