Last Days

I was out walking as usual.  This time it was Chemawa Rd.  I had volunteered to help with a painting project at the Keizer Art Association but arrived a little early and decided to visit a nearby grocery store.  City Hall is next to the building that houses KAA and I glanced that way.  I could see the paintings from the 2011 Mayor’s Invitational show.  They are beautiful but soon they will be replaced.  The new show will be going up next month. 

A brave new year

This Monday was the start of the Chinese New Year, the year of the dragon.  It has special meaning for me; I was born in the year of the dragon.  All sorts of predictions have been made about 2012, most are not good.  According to Chinese astrology, this year has the potential for both good and bad.  Destruction may occur, but only because it’s clearing the way for something new.  It makes me wonder though; we’ve all wanted a change.  Perhaps this will be a year of action, even if it means enduring a disaster or two.  Something better may be waiting under the rubble of 2012.

High Water

The snow turned to rain and with it came the floods.  Yesterday I took a trip to one of the local parks situated near the river.  Most of the park was closed off due to the high water.  I was able to have a look at the river.  It was much different from the calm, green water I saw last summer.  That particular park has paths going down to the river but they are under water now.  This is the highest I’ve seen the river in quite some time and I hope it won’t go any higher.

Snow fall

I’ve been thinking about snow for many weeks.  I endured the fog and the freeze that went with it.  Last week I listened to prognostications of snow.  Finally I woke on Sunday morning to a light powder of it.  I wondered how long it would last and if there would be more.  I took a drive to the south end of town.  That’s where most of the snow fell.  I decided to take a walk in one of the parks.  It was late afternoon, but I met several people out doing the same.  I even saw a man with a snow board.  The snow came down while I walked around and it was very beautiful.