Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears
Seven days in Oregon. Two dads. Two kids.
Deep cold water. Clear. The trout are huge and they swim right next to us. We spend at least 20 minutes trying to catch one with a 5 gallon bucket. I jump off a big rock and rip open a scab. Gaël refuses to swim, but agrees to dip his feet in.
Shoe rental: $3.50
Single game: $3.00
Chicken fingers with fries: $8.50
Racing game by the entrance: $1
Fights: 0
Top score with bumpers: 58
"I don't understand why you love the Oregon coast so much. Yes it's cool, but is it the coolest place you've ever been? I stayed there and went to some beaches, yes there were cool restaurants, but is it as life changing as you describe?" - Andrew
This place is full of immeasurable magic. Deep old magic.
Listen to me. The key is to go quietly and for hours. Wander. Look at the waves, see how they froth? Do hear how the sound of the breaking blends into itself. Can you feel the wind on your face? Watch how it whips and bends the grass - see how it folds over itself. Let's walk the dunes, see how they shift? They never stay the same. We can run up and jump off of them. The sand is gentle. It's not time to go yet, wait for the sun. At the end of the day it will sit on the horizon, lighting up the whole ocean, reflecting off the pools in the sand. It's one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen.
"Dad I HATE THE BEACH. HATE IT. HATE IT. It's cold and I'm getting sand in my eyes. I want to go. I want ice cream. You said we would get ice cream at the end. I do not want to stay any longer."
Why doesn't my son watch the baseball game? Why does he climb on the railing of the stadium instead? Why he is challenging the religious beliefs of the children around him? Why is he throwing the popcorn instead of eating it? Why is he trying to steal the mascot's sword?
---
It was a perfect week. I'm omitting quite a lot. This was a trip where we more aggressively "did things". I left behind the screens and we pretty much pushed it until the boys were almost sleep walking. My parents spoiled us intensely. Every day was a different pie or turnover from fruit in the garden.
---
Gael update: stubborn. Very excited about video games and Pokemon.
DJ update: I've let the exercise slip to a pretty large degree. Doesn't really matter yet. This month and the one after is just about survival. Lots of changes happening. I spontaneously bought a plane ticket for somewhere next next week. It's the most foolish and adventurous thing I've done in a while. Going to try to lean into whatever opportunities present themselves for me there.
Cowabunga Dude,
DJ
PS: Send me a text, say "hello", tell me what's up with you
Written listening to this
Deep cold water. Clear. The trout are huge and they swim right next to us. We spend at least 20 minutes trying to catch one with a 5 gallon bucket. I jump off a big rock and rip open a scab. Gaël refuses to swim, but agrees to dip his feet in.
Shoe rental: $3.50
Single game: $3.00
Chicken fingers with fries: $8.50
Racing game by the entrance: $1
Fights: 0
Top score with bumpers: 58
"I don't understand why you love the Oregon coast so much. Yes it's cool, but is it the coolest place you've ever been? I stayed there and went to some beaches, yes there were cool restaurants, but is it as life changing as you describe?" - Andrew
This place is full of immeasurable magic. Deep old magic.
Listen to me. The key is to go quietly and for hours. Wander. Look at the waves, see how they froth? Do hear how the sound of the breaking blends into itself. Can you feel the wind on your face? Watch how it whips and bends the grass - see how it folds over itself. Let's walk the dunes, see how they shift? They never stay the same. We can run up and jump off of them. The sand is gentle. It's not time to go yet, wait for the sun. At the end of the day it will sit on the horizon, lighting up the whole ocean, reflecting off the pools in the sand. It's one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen.
"Dad I HATE THE BEACH. HATE IT. HATE IT. It's cold and I'm getting sand in my eyes. I want to go. I want ice cream. You said we would get ice cream at the end. I do not want to stay any longer."
Why doesn't my son watch the baseball game? Why does he climb on the railing of the stadium instead? Why he is challenging the religious beliefs of the children around him? Why is he throwing the popcorn instead of eating it? Why is he trying to steal the mascot's sword?
---
It was a perfect week. I'm omitting quite a lot. This was a trip where we more aggressively "did things". I left behind the screens and we pretty much pushed it until the boys were almost sleep walking. My parents spoiled us intensely. Every day was a different pie or turnover from fruit in the garden.
---
Gael update: stubborn. Very excited about video games and Pokemon.
DJ update: I've let the exercise slip to a pretty large degree. Doesn't really matter yet. This month and the one after is just about survival. Lots of changes happening. I spontaneously bought a plane ticket for somewhere next next week. It's the most foolish and adventurous thing I've done in a while. Going to try to lean into whatever opportunities present themselves for me there.
Cowabunga Dude,
DJ
PS: Send me a text, say "hello", tell me what's up with you
Written listening to this
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