Birthday Bits

Best birthday card ever!! I collect dragons, and one of my special friends found a super cool dragon birthday card. Jupyter approves.

My 56th birthday was Friday, January 9th. I don’t know why, but my mood lifted, my man was amazing, and everything came through to make it an excellent birthday. I had received a terrible blow on Thursday the 8th, when I heard not only about the murder of Renee Good in Minneapolis, but then the shooting of Luis David Nino-Moncada and Yorlenys Betzabeth Zambrano-Contreras in Portland, my hometown. Both of these incidents instigated by unhinged ICE agents occupying our peaceful, democratic cities in a hostile takeover by an equally unhinged fascist government in America. The world unfolding around me can be frightening if I allow myself to think about it.

But it was my birthday! And I didn’t want to be scared for a day. Or two. So I disconnected from places, and announced to friends that I didn’t want any news updates. And I just focused on the day, and my beloved man and kitty. And it worked! My Friday and Saturday were amazingly fun and happy.

After I brushed my teeth, I came out to the kitchen and found flowers, a card, and a wrapped gift.

This was my gift!! This is a perfect gift for us. I can hardly wait to use this new tent.

Then, we went for a hike, and stayed at a cool historic hotel. The next day we went for another hike! Just across the Bridge of the Gods in the town of Cascade Locks, is Beacon Rock. Its original name was Che-che-op-tin by the Watlala tribe, but in 1806 it was named Beacon Rock by Meriwether Lewis, and of course that is the one that was set down into the record books.

Pedro is happy here. He says, “People always think I’m angry, or have a question, but that’s just my face.”

Hikers immediately begin an ascent of switchbacks.

I have hiked this trail often, but always marvel at the array of bridges, railings, walls that come together here to allow us to safely climb.

The many switchbacks offer many opportunities to stop and look around. People assume you are appreciating nature, and don’t suspect you of stopping just to take a breather. (heh heh)

As we neared the top, we stopped to gaze out across the Columbia River. THIS time, as opposed to all the shots of the river in the previous two posts, we looked out at the state of Oregon on the other side.

The mighty Columbia River, looking eastward. The valley is in Washington state, and those mountains with snow are in Oregon.

On the other side of the rock the trail is different. Look at the giant tree that recently uprooted!

Hikers climb the west-facing side with concrete, wooden, and metal structures keeping us safe. It was very dramatic, but sheltered from the weather that day. Two-thirds of the way up, we wound to the east-facing side, which was forested and had trees and dirt to cut a path through, but we were BLASTED with wind.

Totally frozen people, braving the wind chill and battering buffeting for a sloppy selfie.

We made a very quick stop at the top. The wind was so fierce that it took the already cool January day and made it wholly unpleasant. Yup, top, check! and we headed back down.

Information sign at the site. The quote from Henry Biddle is one of my favourite insights into the marvel of human beings: “My purpose in acquiring the property was simply and wholly that I might build a trail to the summit.”

Curious about this sticker on top of Beacon Rock, I took a photo and looked it up later. If you are curious, please read the final paragraph of this blog post. **

A panorama taken from a lower vantage, out of the battering winds. Portland is on the river off to the right of this photo.

And then we crossed Bridge of the Gods back into Cascade Locks and bought some fresh salmon for dinner, and some smoked salmon for snacks in the car, and made our way home at last.

Kitty cannot understand why I care about the tent at all, when there is this amazing BOX that came with it.

**I am grateful for the opportunity to look up and get re-acquainted with the story referenced by the sticker at Beacon Rock, which I had forgotten. Curiously, I wrote the paragraph at the top about fear BEFORE I researched “M COMEY.” Maureen Comey (daughter of former FBI Director James Comey) was fired in July 2025 from her senior attorney position at the Manhattan U.S. attorney’s office. She released an email that included these words: “If a career prosecutor can be fired without reason, fear may seep into the decisions of those who remain. Do not let that happen,” she wrote. “Fear is the tool of a tyrant, wielded to suppress independent thought. Instead of fear, let this moment fuel the fire that already burns at the heart of this place. A fire of righteous indignation at abuses of power. Of commitment to seek justice for victims. Of dedication to truth above all else.” Comey was given no reason for her dismissal. CNN reported that a White House official said her relation to the former FBI Director was “untenable.” President Dump hates Comey and apparently feels that a relative of anyone he hates should not have a position of prestige.