Windsurfing is our first passion as surf dogs. We love to sail the Columbia River, right in our Oregon front yard. My three dogs sons - Elvis, Dude and Doodle sail with me in Hood River, Oregon, the windsurfing capital of the world.
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OB Law license plate on my bookshelf. The actual one used in the TV show. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org
O.B. Law - throwback to another surf dog place and time
Ah, the good old days! Of television. Graphic arts. And Ocean Beach, my old home town. OB - home of Dog Beach.
Just found this on YouTube - an old episode of OB Law! One tongue-in-cheek moment on the KFMB TV series San Diego At Large.
In my career in the 80’s as Assoc. Art Director at Channel 8, I made this OB license plate prop and many other graphics for the locals-only TV series.
I also air-brushed a bra on top of the San Onofre nuke “boobs” for the show.
The show starred Larry Himmel, an incredible on air host, storyteller and comedian. Now, there was a guy who made us all laugh at life.
It was a wonderful time in TV - local news producers, writers and photogs wrote, produced, and starred in the show. No actors involved. The two blonde attorneys heading out to surf OB pier were videographers. The serious-looking attorney in the office, and the judge - producers.
What a hoot. I played a couple of small bit parts. They called me “stunt girl.”
We all made it up as we went along.
This was long before consultants micro-managed on air talent, and decades before reality television came on the scene.
It was like breaking rules, breaking ground and laughing at yourself, all at the same time.
Special thanks to Ocean Beach Living Beach Cam / Charles Landon for finding this YouTube gem.
RIP, Larry Himmel. Thank you. You made us all proud.
Speaking of proud - just look at what the Larry Himmel Neighborhood Foundation is doing.
See those ripples? Jumping trout were here. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org
First day of spring. In spite of COVID.
Looking back on March 2020:
Funny. It still looks the same. Out front. In town. On the trail.
In our dinky dog town - Mosier, Oregon. Population 430.
Columbia River style.
Rock Creek pond. In Mosier’s from yard. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org
And the sky is still reflecting.
And the fish are starting to jump.
For joy.
And bugs.
And you only see a flitter -
but you hear the splash
and their ripples remain, long afterwards.
Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org
And after the cold and grey
and challenge of winter.
They return again.
To lift us up.
Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org
And we are reminded of what matters most.
On the winding trail ahead.
Behind.
This one.
This uncharted path.
And the ones we’ve walked for years.
Our old farmhouse, in the distance. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org
And the layers.
Of lichen.
And light.
And life.
And in the distance…
our home.
Twin doxies. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org
In spring, I get two dogs, for the price of one.
As my doxie and his shadow twin drag me along the trail.
And we’re not social distancing.
Doodle ‘n I. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org
Nope. Not Doodle ‘n I.
We’re in it together.
As we humans reinvent the social norms -
of 6 feet away - or more.
And businesses are closed.
And we’re worried.
But I know we'll find each other.
I know we’ll invent new ways to show we care.
And new ways to care for each other.
Social media - a whole new meaning.
Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org
And PS, those huge rainbow trout in the pond right now are just spring crazy. Showing off.
Jumping for joy.
And bugs.
A great reminder.
Just when we’re getting all wrapped up in our human condition - Trout speaks up.
And makes us smile.
And just around the corner… sleep walking trees. And rusty dinosaurs.
Our home beach.
Our home beach, Rock Creek. Mosier, OR Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org
And kiters.
Like trout.
Just waking up.
Making up. Lost time. Free time. No time like this.
A couple brave kiters already out there. Getting big spring air.
Tiki Dude, Rusty the recycled toaster dog ‘n spring friends, in the yard.. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org
There is no place like home.
We’re stuck here, after all.
But are we really stuck?
'Tis spring.
Easter almost.
We'll come back from this.
We daffodils.
We trout.
We reflections.
We can be stronger. Closer. And farther away, all at the same time.
We are one.
FIRST PUBLISHED MARCH 2020
- Barb Ayers, Emergency Manager, Hood River County (on my day off from COVID response)
Our GetReadyGorge.com website - to help your neighbors prepare. www.GetReadyGorge.com