After the heat of Santiago, I arrived at the airport in Portland to the winter season once more. In a few hours I was home in Rainier, where a thin layer of snow still covered the ground. Over the week that followed, more snow fell. It’s not a lot of snow as far as snowy places go, but for our area it is unusual. And just in time for Christmas!
Tara and I bought a $5 tag from the U.S. Forest Service and went up into the mountains to collect a tree. We didn’t find much in the way of trees, but we had a great adventure. Soon after we entered National Forest land, we came upon a couple of young men trapped in a little car on an icy bridge. They had tried to cross the bridge the night before and became high-centered on the snow berm in the middle, and couldn’t get any traction on the ice. They had spent the night out there and were SO glad to see us! I towed them off the bridge with the Jeep and we pushed the car to help them turn it around and get them out of there. They looked in pretty good shape, but were ready to eat and get warm again.
In the chill, it’s obvious my thoughts keep going back to those warm days such a short time ago. I’m still peeling from the sunburn, but the mosquito bites are all healed. Yay! I’ve got the stamps on my passport to prove it really happened. I was gathering some of the money together to send to my brother, who collects foreign currency as I do, and it occurred to me that my Uncle Sean was a missionary for the Mormon church in the 1980s and did his mission in Chile. He sent me a 100 CP note back then and I still have it. The currency has de-valued, and Chile doesn’t even *make* 100 peso bills anymore.
Merry Christmas everyone and have the happiest of New Year’s celebrations! My long, annual Christmas missive is delayed, obviously, but I’ve had a really productive December. I spent two weeks on vacation, I finished the Mt. Hood Cherokees newsletter this morning, and sent it out to everyone on the mailing list. I’ve got all Tara’s presents wrapped. The tree is up and simply gorgeous. Santa comes tonight and we are all very excited about it!
Conscious Engagement 
Talk about a shock to the system! Good of you to help out those two guys. They were probably hoping for warm weather the melt the snow! I can imagine spending such a cold night in your car. No thanks! You are a very active and energetic woman to get so much done in so little time. Enjoy your warm memories as you sit beside the fire tonight. 🙂 Merry Holidays!
That’s what I try to remember: that I have done a lot this month. I have a bad habit of seeing what I did in terms of what I wish I had done. It’s not very positive… I need to remember more often to look at all the achievements. The best one so far: putting aside my To-Do list and enjoying my college student home for winter break.
Thanks for the holiday wishes! I hope that you feel warm and loved all the way into the New Year.
Crystal, how incredibly fortunate for those guys that ya’ll came along! And what an adventure for you and Tara! What beautiful photos, too. Enjoy this day! ❤
Thank you Laurie! Yes, I decided the whole reason that Tara and I went into the mountains that day was to pull the car off the bridge. 🙂 Merry Christmas!
Ah, sweet destiny. You were needed somewhere and so you went. I probably would have kissed you and taken you to dinner had you pulled my car out after an all night vigil. We are having an unusual winter or maybe it’s usual and I’ve just missed the others. 🙂 More snow coming and the kid is taking a Uhaul through more snow! I’m terrified for him and wish he could wait. But of course, he can’t. I love looking at snow but hate that anyone has to drive in it. More coming. 😦 You and Tara have a Merry day. Time for me to get out of my chair and get to work. Hugs.
Hugs and love to you, Marlene. I know TS will be fine in the snow, as he is a very good driver and he keeps an eye out for the crazies. The boys seemed grateful, but mostly tired and cold. I don’t blame them and I’m *so* glad we came along. I agree with you and think it’s an unusual winter, but it’s really hard to tell year to year. Mom used to write the weather in her journals that she kept every single day. Then she would look back and she would know for sure how they compared. That’s dedication. Merry Christmas, my friend. I send all my love to you and your kids.
Great rescue on the bridge, Crystal. I can imagine how glad the guys were to see you.
I hear we have been having snow as well. Wish I was there to enjoy it but we have been having a good time with our kids and grandkids on the East Coast. We did get some good snow in Connecticut, however. For a day. It was long enough to build a snowman. 🙂
Happy New Year to you and Tara! –Curt
There is something special about New England winters. Thank you for the Happy New Years wishes and I hope for a great 2017 for you and Pegge too.
wow – how amazing that you would find those stranded guys – how scary fopr them to be stuck and what a special thing to do. 🙂
and the view from your office window is truly beautiful – i would be grateful too 🙂
Even though we did not find our Christmas tree in that forest, I decided we were meant to go out there all along, to rescue those poor young men. It was a Wednesday, and what are the odds anyone else would venture up snow-covered US Forest Service roads on a Wednesday?
odds are so slim – and that is truly an amazing story – you should maybe let the newspaper know— maybe? well either way – keep writing your adventures because this is good book material.
🙂
I”m so happy you were there for Marlene. You are a good soul.
Aww, of course! She and TS have also been there for me, so it was a no-brainer when it was my turn to help.
That’s wonderful to hear as it is generally is among good friends. Did you two meet via blogging or were you friends before?
We met blogging, isn’t that the best? Then we found out we live near each other 🙂 I just love Marlene. ❤
That is the best! My life has changed in the most incredibly wonderful ways since I started blogging. I would never have dreamed it possible, but consider myself one fortunate woman. I can’t wait to finally meet Marlene in person. Knowing you live nearby means that we’ll probably get to meet as well. Don’t you love this world?
I love this world.
🙂
Wow, beautiful. You sound well. Essential oils to keep the next batch of mosquitoes away? =) Happy new year!
Great idea, and luckily I have no more southern hemisphere travel plans, so I have time to gather the proper oils. You know, it’s silly, I never even considered mosquitoes before I went, and then one night we were swarmed! ha ha
I love that view from your office window, and the waterfall shot is pretty special too. I hope you had a good Christmas. 🙂
Christmas was lovely. Thank you. 🙂
I decided to go back so I can start the new year all over again, with you, Tara, creatures and the beautiful scenery. Hope this year started out well and so happy we re-connected. Smiles, Robin
ha ha, I love it that you called them “creatures” too, Robin. 🙂 I’m glad we reconnected. I hope to get more involved with my blogging community again this year. Thanks for helping.