La Familia

For my 71st Birthday Celebration, my children rented a house in Manzanita on the Oregon Coast. It was an awesome place in a beautiful location. The house had four bedrooms, three baths, deck, patio, all the amenities. Only a block to the beach and a few blocks walk to the charming little town.

We arrived Friday night in time for a delicious lasagna dinner prepared by Phil. Saturday we woke up to a waffle breakfast courtesy of Andy. Then a day of sand and sun. Scott set up his chair and Ember played under the striped umbrella. Phil and the dogs were in and out of the water all day romping and running while I just soaked in the atmosphere. Windy brought sandwiches down for lunch and we spent the whole day there getting spotty sunburns and dozing in the sun. Andy et al came down later in the day after Ollie’s nap. Back to the house for a grilled kebab dinner that Scott fixed, and then games and music around the big flat screen plasma TV.

Sunday was another Andy breakfast…huevos rancheros this time. It was misty and foggy and a perfect day for napping, reading and playing with babies. Plenty of leftovers for lunch. Andy & Laura & Oliver left for home in the late afternoon but the rest of us stayed over one more night. It was hard to tear ourselves away. We ordered pizza and watched a movie and had a quiet “wind-down” evening. Up very early Monday morning for a drive back just in time to hit Portland’s famous rush hour traffic.

It’s been over ten years since I lived at Ocean Beach in The City and fell asleep listening to the sounds of the coast…the thundering waves moving in and out, the tolling of the buoy bells, the deep voices of the foghorns. It was wonderful to hear that again and to smell the salt air. It felt so good to walk on wet sand and look for shells and rocks for my collection. I had forgotten how much I enjoy the ocean.

It was one of the best weekends I have ever had. This is why I moved here. My family. I love them all so much. A thousand thanks to them all for making my birthday so special.