By Neal Lemery
It is the height of “no left turn season” and I find myself waiting and waiting to get onto the highway, or simply drive down the road to my destination. My personal frustration level reached a high point yesterday with a “very leisurely” drive from Rockaway Beach to Wheeler at a snail’s pace of 25 mph. The offending tourist finally pulled off, with me and 40 new friends behind them able to speed up, in time for the speed limit zone in Wheeler. Ah, the joys of August on the North Oregon Coast.
My newest travel game is to spot the most gigantic vehicle combination on the road. This week’s winner is a jumbo Winnebago coach, hauling an SUV and a 25 foot sport fishing boat with the extra large outboard motor. For extra points, I looked for the gas barbeque that would have fit in the boat, but, alas, I was disappointed. Maybe I’ll luck out tomorrow.
I tried to count my blessings of running my errand on a beautiful sunny day, with some good tunes playing and not having any strict deadlines. Being “on time” anyway this time of year is only an aspiration, and there’s always that acceptable excuse for being late because of the traffic. My friends and associates accept these excuses, and we usually have a five minute commiseration session before our meeting.
I know that all these visitors bring money, and that our economy depends on them for their cash. While I am inconvenienced, I do welcome the economic benefits, and also the ability to show off the natural beauty of our home. I see a lot of visitors simply taking a breath, chilling out, absorbing a scenic wonder, and being able to enjoy nature with their families. Maybe I need to think of our tourism as a form of health care for the nation.
Despite my seasonal grousing, I see many good things happening in our little corner of the country. Merchants are refurbishing storefronts, new affordable housing buildings are springing up in many communities, and the new health clinic and pharmacy is starting to grow in Wheeler. The fiber optic cable folks on the Wilson River Highway are about done with their work of adding more internet service, and I eagerly await the arrival of cell phone service on that dangerous and well-traveled highway.
The south jetty on Tillamook Bay is getting new rock, and new bridges and repaving are improving our roads. These projects have been on the community “to do” list for a long time and it is satisfying to see the work getting done this year. The new Cape Meares Loop road is a wonder, showcasing part of our coastline with views we haven’t seen before. The designing engineers should get an award for their artistic vision.
There are several new non-profit organizations starting up, filling needs for education and cultural events. Their vision looks far into the future. The farmers markets around the county are flourishing, and farm stands are well-stocked. We are busy taking care of community needs and sharing the bounty of farmers.
Artists and their beautiful work are everywhere, with art shows now commonplace and exciting. Public murals brighten community buildings, and there’s an abundance of music and dance. We are even having Shakespeare in the park, at the main library’s new stage at Tillamook’s newest park.
My garden grows well this summer, and I’ve been focused on the art of propagating with seeds and cuttings. I’m practicing new skills and techniques. I’m seeing my time in the yard as a laboratory, and as a metaphor for what most everyone in the community are doing this summer, growing a healthy and thriving future.
Books: NEW book – BE THE CHANGE – One Random Act of Kindness at a Time; Neal’s other books include: Building Community: Rural Voices for Hope and Change; Finding My Muse on Main Street, Homegrown Tomatoes, and Mentoring Boys to Men