DICK HANNAH, TAM O'SHANTER PARK, & OHSU

Today started out pretty much like yesterday: a cold, blustery, 37-degree day … with visible snowflakes. Today’s snowflakes were not a big, or as fluffy as yesterday’s flakes, but the pin-dot flakes were still visible.

And there was a lot more happening today, than there was yesterday.

First off, I had a noon appointment in Kelso, with the Dick Hannah Shop for a car maintenance checkup. I drove the Pacific Way backroad to avoid the continuing road work on Ocean Beach.

Thank you, Babe, for taking me on all the backroads: I use them every chance I get 😊

Dick Hannah Toyota-K from Heron Pointe-LV; 21 min (9.8 mi) via WA-4 E. Pacific Way & past Foster Farms.

Snow on the car in front of me; while waiting to get warming, wake-up coffee.

And snow on the truck in back of me. Snow was noticably absent on my vehicle.

Snow on Pacific Way ... about 5 minutes from home - and the incline isn't that steep.

‘When You Rise Up’ song:(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtFY9_WWZHg)

Isaiah 33:2 & 3 – (2) “O Lord, be gracious to us! We wait for You. Be our strength every morning and our salvation in time of trouble. (3) The people flee the thunder of Your voice; the nations scatter when You rise.”

I liked this sight as I turned onto Ocean Beach Highway ... giving honor to Nation & to God 😊

I was early, but they were able to get me in and out again before my actual scheduled appointment 😉

And, they sent me home with another appointment slated for next week – if I had known about the extra care necessary, I would have come prepared; but they didn’t mention it until this afternoon. I came with just enough $$$ to get today’s scheduled work done.

Thank you, Babe, for this car – and for the wherewithal to maintain it; thank you for your loving, “into-the-future-looking provisions” that continue to keep me afloat 😊

Same time next week - same place; more moolah required.

Ownership is spendy; my savings will be significantly smaller this time next week. The Scottish DNA in me is squawking about the expense.

I had left the house prepared to go hiking along the Coweeman River Trail, but stepping out of the Highlander, I was thinking of sliding back into the driver’s seat and heading back home.

It.was.cold.

But, I soldiered on. I want to stick to my daily walking routine.

As I started forward into that biting cold wind, I kept telling myself that 2 miles isn’t that long … and after a while, it wasn’t – I even started to get a little overheated in my heavy, logger’s duck cloth, hooded coat; I was glad I put the ear muffs on instead of the hood (my uncovered head kept the warmth tolerable) 😉

Thank you, Babe, for taking me to this Park, and walking this walk with me – even when you would rather have been doing something else with your time; I appreciate the effort you put into keeping our relationship solid with unwavering love. I’ll start walking here more often, now that I am putting more of an effort into making Cowlitz County my home. And thank you for buying me that first duck cloth coat … it’s been replaced with another when the zipper started losing teeth: and the memory of your caring love was with me during that purchase: **kiss-kiss**

Coweeman River Trail; Tam O'Shanter Park, in Kelso. 2 mile-round-trip.

Dick Hannah Toyota from Tam O'Shanter Park; 9 min (3.5 mi) via 13th Ave S and Talley Way.

Tam O'Shanter Park, in Kelso parallels the I-5 freeway.

That cold 37-degree wind hit my face skin like icy pin pricks.

Bob's son, Alex graduated this school; and our granddaughter, Alyna went here too, briefly.

Highlander School Complex.

Tam O'Shanter Park used to a junkie magnet: we stopped bringing our granddaughter here when she was around 7 yo - junkies were shooting up in broad daylight, around kids of all ages. It looks clean now. Not a needle in sight.

This part of the walk always remains the same ... a duck haven; Mallards.

Brookhollow Mobile Home & RV Park, around the bend.

I think this is a soccer field ... getting a shave. LOL

Snowy hilltop in the distance; Coweeman River flows through the Park.

Coweeman River.

Testy courting drakes.

A Great Blue Heron; and various species of ducks.

Heron takes flight.

The gray, clouded sky looks as cold as the river wind feels. BRRRR

Driving home, I decided to nip over the West Hills area in Longview, because the road drops onto Pacific Way near home – and I could bypass the tire-eating-steel plate on Ocean Beach Highway.

But I was not at all prepared for the sight that greeted my eyes on the downside of the West Hills area.

West Hills, Longview; OHSU is visible from Cedar Place dropping onto Cascade Way.

I was unprepared to see OHSU on the hilltop, across the river. I was able to shake off the stabbing heart pain easier this year: I am healing.

A portion of the sprawling OHSU Complex - I recognized the boxy shape. The shape and color were very clear, even from across the river; there was no doubt of what I was seeing.

Death is not the same as divorce - there is no rational comparison. Only ignorant narcissists would make such a thoughtless, warped comparison.

Bob & gloria's divorce was pretty calm and amicable. Amicable means relations or interactions that are civil, or peaceful; gloria married dale practically before the ink was dry on the divorce papers. Divorce does not equal death.

Bob and I didn't want to end our life together; but, when Elohim calls ... you go.

Thank you, my love, for all the love you gave me; every day – and every night – for 44 years.

Thank you, my love, for the memories that I will always cherish. Even the ones that are hard to relive.

Thank you, my love, for all the ways your presence in my life has shaped my life in all the stages of my life.

Thank you.

My Love.