The Morning Commute - Phlox

I spotted them a couple of weeks ago as I snaked through the canyon on my way from Condon to work in Hood River.  Phlox.  Pretty purplish-blue phlox, growing wild-as-you-please on the walls of the canyon beside the road.  I had to stop.  I had to take a picture.  The phlox overwhelmed me with a sense of happiness, hope, and contentment.

Wild phlox along on canyon wall on Rt 206.

You see, we had bluish-purple (I am bad with colors) phlox growing below the terraced bit I created in the front of the house in Wheeling, WV.  I never completed the master plan of removing all of the creeping juniper and terracing the whole hill, but I kept dreaming.

The day I "built" my wall  - such as it was - Dad was there.  He was in town for my installation service, and I was very happy for his presence.  My loving father-in-law insisted on "helping" me as I dug, leveled, and built this wall with retaining wall blocks (like I knew what I was doing.)  Unfortunately below our work area was a mass of creeping, ground covering juniper.  When Dad tells the story, he insists I pushed him.  The truth is that all on his own, with one false step, he slid down the hill atop the juniper, bounced off of my Saturn, and hit the pavement.  Standing helplessly, I watched as he fell in that frightening slow-motion-can't-stop-it sort of way.  After the adrenaline rush and with a little TLC, some ice, and banishment from the wall project (except as spectator), Dad was fine.  The incident, however, has taken on legendary status in the family. ("She pushed me." "You fell."  "Yes, after you pushed me." "Dad!" "What?")

A couple of years later, as my terracing project languished, in an uncharacteristic move by Tim, he came home one day with a few pots of phlox.  Tim never gets involved in the gardening.  But, he said, he was at the Kroger, and they were pretty, and, well, he liked the color.  So, I tore out weeds and some of the demonic juniper and planted the phlox.  Over the years it grew, expanding and commanding the space once occupied by unwanted plants.  They were very pretty.

Much like my phlox in WV.

The contentment and happiness I felt when I saw the wild phlox on the way to work a couple of weeks ago, I know is connected to those memories.  What could have been a tragic accident, is now a family tease.  What was once difficult space to manage was transformed by the phlox into beauty.  The commonality between the store bought and wild phlox is a reminder of God's continuing good creation.  I had to stop.  I had to take a picture.  I had to smile for the rest of my drive into work, because phlox is totally awesome.

Portland Makes Me Smile

Today didn't start off with a bang.  My asthma seems to be winning this fight even with 5 different drugs I'm throwing at it.  And then the washing machine downstairs died AFTER Tim put the liquid detergent in and inserted the coins.  Not an auspicious beginning.

The 7/11 and/or the credit union also made my list for the day.  Tried a different 7/11 to deposit a check.  This is a selling point with the credit union - you can do all your banking at the kiosks in the 7/11.  I tried to deposit the check, following the machine's prompts.  After putting in the account number, swiping my card, telling it what credit union I'm from, I got the equivalent to a "sorry we don't want to play with you" message.

So off it was to the issuing bank (gasp - Wells Fargo) to cash said check for shopping.  Finally we were off to The Village Free School for their holiday fair.  We were able to get a few things we needed immediately and even a couple of gifts from the various vendors while supporting the school.  Things were improving.

from clevercycles.com

After grocery shopping at New Seasons on Interstate, we saw about 10 Santas getting off the Max and walking down the street. Hmmm.  Kinda weird even for Portland. Shortly afterwards at the next stop light, an entire regatta of bikes of all shapes and sizes rode past - most with carts attached.  We made our turn and followed this strange parade to discover that they were moving someone.  On bikes.  I guess they do that here.  Take that Allied Van Lines and U-haul!  Their ingenuity and act of community made me forget about ATM's that won't cooperate and broken washers.

When we got the groceries squared away, I volunteered to take the laundry to the laundromat.  As I was unloading the car, there they were again.  Santas.  I looked up and down Lombard, carrying the clothes, to see that Santas were quite literally everywhere. Probably over 50 people.  I attended to the task at hand, started the washer, and tried to sit like a grown-up.  I couldn't sit still.  Curiosity won the moment.  I went outside and walked to the nearest corner where many Santas were gathered.

"Excuse me.  What's going on?"  In front of me stood a Jedi Santa complete with Yoda backpack and Jedi sword.
"It's Santa Con."
"We didn't have Santa Con in Wheeling, West Virginia."
 "I bet not."  A Santa with antlers walked past and hugged a Santa with multicolored hair.
My Santa continued, "Thousands of Santas all across the country gather together.  It's cool."
"Yeah. Thanks."

As I was preparing to leave, my Jedi Santa said, "Oh wait."  He somewhat awkwardly got the Yoda backpack off and reached inside, "Santa loves you" and handed me two Hershey kisses.  Now who couldn't smile at that.

Today I saw the face of Christ in simple acts of kindness from home movers on bikes and exotic Santas.  I love Portland.