Coffee and Calm

I’m sitting here in the tranquil yard of Fr Michael’s house near Goldendale, Oregon. A breeze is making its way through the trees around me, chilling but not biting, swift yet not hurrying. It is as though it has no destination but merely wanders playfully through the hills. The land is lively and full of muted green but dry. The trees are scrappy, sparse and predominately pine; bearing the stoic pride of those who against the odds live and thrive, much the same as the evergreens of the north Yukon. Veritable pillars of the eco-system they are, this always amazes and impresses me the role plants play together to shape and form an environment. The undergrowth is full of bright yellow and delicate purple or blue as flowers spring forth from midst of long grasses and gnarled shrubs. All of it seems to bear a mystery, fields looking green from afar reveal the orange earth as I approach them. All is subtle beauty. Mildly now the air brings to me the smell of fresh coffee drifting over from the garage where Fr Michael’s roaster is. Gleaming golden-brown the beans come out, warm and smelling of heaven. Transformed from their dull yellow-green from before, tantalizing the senses into desire to partake. Hard now to believe it is that just yesterday we were in the heart of Seattle where we had arrived late on the 5th. The nighttime cityscape was impressive but all the lights had the seeming of eyes that have long ceased dreaming. Into the heart we plunged and toured the lit up central streets, nice as far as cities go. Soon however large groups of society’s rejects started to pass us, why is it that these “grand” cities always cast some down without recourse. One of these stopped to tell us about a good place for showgirls and proceeded to ask us if we could do him a favor and give him five bucks. We gave him some Canadian cash. The next day we found showers at a port office, much to our joy. Proceeding then to tour the pike market and pike place starbucks, the market was interesting and diverse. The city in general had the attraction of deadly adders eyes, darkly enticing but not to be trusted. I guess I just don’t like big cities that much. On our way south to Goldendale we stopped to see Ben’s cousin in Ellensburg. A most pleasant stop it was as we ran in to more people we knew there. Reuniting with old friends is always a blessing. Then to where I am now we came. A short time only yet to be in such peace and hospitality has seemed a long time indeed. Tomorrow we are off again but I will look back to this as a highlight of the trip I’m sure. Oh and be sure to get some coffee from Father Michael’s Roastery.
Till next time,
PDTL (5/7/11)