He looked at me with a frown, shook his head disapprovingly and turned his back.
His overalls formed a “Y”, with “Oregon!” written down the main trunk. Full of chagrin, I winced and mouthed “I’m sorry”, because I knew I was in the wrong. I had sprawled my truck and small cargo trailer across a few parking spots, simply because I thought they were not going to be used, because they were in the shade, and because I was scared of parking myself into another corner that I wouldn’t be able to back the trailer out of.
Oh my.
Little trailers are HARD, man! The little one that Mikey bought and attached to the suburban to help schlep the camping stuff around was supposed to be easy; I’d be able to practice it a bit and have it down.
Reality?
I was stuck a hell of a lot. Couldn’t figure out how to turn it around or or attach/detach or back it up.
But anyway.
Oregon.
It’s been a while.
I had forgotten how large the speed limit signs are, how few.
Forgot all about the Ducks being their sporty brand (before I remembered, I was thinking the state had some weird obsession with big yellow ducks). Forgot about how Southern Oregon is so conservative, so many big crosses around and pro-life pieces. Forgot about all the antique stores. Forgot about the low gas prices! How could I?! I also forgot about the fact that they fill your gas for you!
But I did not forget about much I love and miss Bev. Bev, who was Moxie’s teacher, who got her going with horse therapy, who helped us to figure out life on the Lost Coast when it was really hard.
Bev moved to Oregon recently to live with her daughter and grandkids (who were also moving there from California). They’ve gotten a business started and it’s looking oh-so-good. If you are in the Portland area, it’s called “Once Upon a Horse” – you owe it to yourself (and your kids) to check it out.
We met our friends Jisun and Leah and their kids there.
Picked blackberries
Checked out Bev’s barn space for pre-schoolers… oh my.
It’s a million kinds of awesome.
I mean, the space is in and of itself AWESOME. And it’s awesome to see someone you love (like Bev) doing something that THEY love and want to to do. It’s awesome to see these dreams unfold and magic in the making.
We spent a few hours there – I know we’ll be back soon.
And again – if you are in the Portland area, and especially if you have kids/kids with a disability, give Bev a call – Once Upon a Horse.
Meriah Nichols is a counselor. Solo mom to 3 (one with Down syndrome, one on the spectrum). Deaf, and neurodiverse herself, she’s a gardening nerd who loves cats, Star Trek, and takes her coffee hot and black.
