A Visit Southward

I'm sitting here smiling. I feel peaceful and happy. We spent the weekend travelling south to visit our son, spending many hours in the car and three nights on the road. It was worth every minute, every single minute. Our Web is a wonderful young man, with a strong and purposeful sense of self. His path is far different from ours, yet he carries our values and love with him.

He's living in a communal setting, working hard and developing a strong interest in sustainable living and farming. He's about to embark on an adventure to another part of the US, to gain experience at a more established farm, and possibly bring those experiences back to his current home. Or, being the adventurous sort, he may move around a bit. Apparently there are many farms that he's interested in, so only time will tell. He's travelling with a trusted friend, and we feel good about the whole venture.

I have to tell you about Saturday night. We went to a nice little restaurant in town, Eric and I and two hippy-type boys. There was an open piano and an invitation to play. Web has about ten years of piano lessons under his belt, plus an amazing ability to play anything he hears. He sat down at the piano and played two beautiful classical pieces. Both ended in applause, and when we left, one table full of older adults said they were sorry to see him leave and had enjoyed his playing. I think he turned some perceptions upside down that night. I'm pretty sure they didn't expect what they got out of the dreadlocked, scruffy looking kid. He has an ability with music that truly amazes me, and often goes busking on street corners with his accordion. When he asked for piano lessons at age six, we didn't own a piano. We thought he'd try and give up, but we were mistaken. We bought the piano (after a year of lessons without one) and trucked him to lessons for the next ten years. It was money and time well spent.

In addition to the time we spent with Web, we ran together in new towns, and spent many hours cocooned in the car together. We had great conversations, lots of laughs and just general fun. Though I must say, poor Eric. He left Spokane on Friday morning (at the far eastern edge of our state), drove six hours home, then about two hours later we got in the car and drove to central Oregon - an additional four or so hours in the car. That's a big hunk of driving in one day! That left us with only two hours to travel on Saturday. Yesterday, we drove straight back to Vancouver (just over the Washington/Oregon border) so Eric could be at a business meeting. We finally got home about 3:00 this afternoon. All in all, a sweet weekend, full of life's best pleasures. And, yes, a weekend and a road trip that did not involve a race!

Of course, that's not the case next weekend...another race is fast approaching. However, we have another weekend like this on our schedule, when we plan to head to the eastern side of the state again, but this time to visit Riley. Parents on the move!