July 16, 2006
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Went to the look-out on Bum’s Beach. I don’t know the real name but that’s what I call it. It’s a beach you can only get reach in summer, as water covers much of the way there the rest of the year. Because of the homeless population, who camp there in the evenings, I only go on beautiful weekends when I can count on a few other brave souls to be there. And I take my cane with me. I don’t need it anymore but I like wielding a stick.
I go when it’s real hot because there’s some serious wind where I sit, perched high up on a concrete platform next to the green flag. You have to climb up a steep knoll with switchbacks, like those sheep with horns travel. I had the wrong shoes on so I was glad to be able to use the cane to steady myself over the jagged rock. Bridget thought she was a sheep. Once she became more comfortable with the treacherously abrupt decline down — It was a straight drop, and the platform sat on the edge – she carefully picked her way down to the water. Looking back up, alarmed by the distance between us and the vertical nature of it, she came rushing back up. Back and forth. The boats made big waves which crashed up against the rock. She won’t swim in waves.
The passing boats would see her and look for me. Most of them never thought to look up that high but I waved to a few. A plane flew so low I could have hit it with a rock. I know they saw me, hell, they were dive-bombing me. I waved and as I watched them circle back into southwest Portland I didn’t feel alone at all. I sat on my perch, feeling the perfect ratio of sun to wind, following the river up as far as the bridge, and I felt as much a part of this world, as if I were in my lover’s arms; God’s embrace.
Comments (15)
funny, i felt the opposite as i neared the end of this…i felt as if you had risen above the embrace to a place of satisfied distance from everything. it sounds great though, either way…
beautiful entry . . .
sounds like the perfect spot to think and reflect… and i’m not sure i know who you are talking about… will go check your commenters!
“…my lover’s arms; God’s Embrace.” Tis no better place to be.
What a neat post. I was going to tell you that my favorite bit was “Bridget thought she was a sheep.” BUt it got better with the last paragraph – the boats seeing her and looking for you, you being so high with the plane. And in your lover’s arms, God’s embrace. That is a fundamental part of my idea of mysticism, and I think it’s absolutely beautiful (understatement).
um, I totally missed the God’s embrace part of this yesterday…I blame my early rising.
When I longed for the ultimate and perfect lover I was for a time inspired to find God’s embrace.
Have you returned to your artistic, spiritual mores in the past when everyday life disapponts, disillusions? I know I find solace in the divine when there’s little to be found elsewhere, but then I get caught up in the new daily performances and realize how far I have drifted away from the thing that truly makes me whole. I haven’t been there in a very long time today.
so, it wasn’t there yesterday when I commented? if it wasn’t then i feel better that i didn’t miss it. if it was, then, d’oh.
This was the most peaceful read. It was exciting too. Feeling at one with the whole and individual but included a precarious balance struck artfully. I wonder what those waves smell like. I want to breath that in. I’m pretending I’m doing just that right now.
ryc: thanks for the jeronji link. I’m headed over there right now.
i’m following now…relieved that i didn’t miss such a key statement.
sounds familiar to me
I love places like that, where you can go and be alone and enjoy the scenery and get your head together. Of course, being local, I’m also wondering where this beach is.
ryc: in that place, not that particular physical place, but yeah…that make sense? i figure it would to you
You’re backkkk…loving this piece a bunch…marilyn
I could picture the place in my mind.