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.
- 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