Me and the Missus continued our retirement road trip of Oregon. We struck out for the coast until the biggest rain event in 2 years hit the Nehalem Bay Area. A foot of rain in 72 hours.... Being in the Airstream was like weathering a storm in a beer can. Depression set in...
Fortunately, there were daily field trips.
Obviously there was no fishing. The rivers were beyond blown out. So we hung out, drank beer, and celebrated our 25th anniversary with a fine meal of Steak & Guinness Pie, with black & tans.
Finally couldn't take it anymore and moved inland. If you ever get by Silver Falls State Park, stop! Amazing place. I would have flogged the water, but the season was closed. I'll be back, though. We stayed until snow threatened. Figured we better descend before it got too gnarley.
We went back to the coast, where the weather was clearing. We arrived right at sunset and proceeded to enjoy beautiful weather for the next several days. Simply amazing.
And the people were happy.
Over the course of the trip, I became proficient at mastering campfire meals. We did not suffer.
And between the wife's nightly appetizers and crock pot cooking, we were pretty peaceful at the end of the day.
Of course, there were still field trips. I gave one of the Rogue brewmasters a bottle of Dunk's Fat Hog Barley Wine. He texted later that night with nothing but mad props.
Finally headed south. Hard to go back to Cali, although there were some benefits.
Did some wine tasting while stuck in Lodi. Also met Spicytuna for the first time. Good dude.
Now, here's where the story goes bad. We had been home perhaps 5 minutes when I got a text from a recently retired co-worker, Alan, one of my offshore fishing buddies. He said "Are you watching the news?" I turned on the TV to see my community under attack from terrorists. Every few moments I'd catch a glimpse of a fellow officer and get a sinking feeling knowing I was on the sidelines while they were heading into the fire.
About an hour into watching, I got another text from Alan, "Nick's been shot.........." Nick is Alan's son and an officer with SBPD. Known him since he was seven years old. His younger brother, I hired for my department. My heart fell out of my body.
I continued to watch as a shootout unfolded and I watched my guys pinch in the suspect vehicle. They are the Bearcat on the right that says "Colton" on top. God bless em.
Nick will be okay. He killed the male terrorist before taking a 223 round in the thigh. Then the Calvary showed and finished off the *. From the looks of it, they may have prevented much, much more bloodshed. Still, 14 victims. Senseless.
To say it has been bittersweet is an understatement. I am thankful I finished my career and can become blissfully unaware again. I worry though that we are in a new normal.
And with that, regardless of your religion, beliefs, the color of your skin, or your background, Tami and I wish you all a Season filled with Peace. We'll be visiting the son at Fort Riley this Christmas as he'll be deploying shortly thereafter, so that'll end my reports for the year. Thanks for sticking with a long read.
