friendliness – The Hermits' Rest

Yep, Everyone Is Interesting

It’s true, and the interesting stranger at the Portland Airport agrees. I had things to write about yesterday and plans to work on a blog on my way home. That didn’t happen, and it’s not a bad thing, because I was talking to interesting people, as I did the whole time I was in suburban Portland.

Look, kids, it’s Mount Hood! I did my sightseeing from the plane.

As many wise folks have pointed out before me, everyone has a story to tell. They also say it’s hard to feel animosity towards people when you can see what you have in common and know what they’ve been through. For example, one of my Uber drivers was forced to flee Peru, but he’s made a good life here. All the Uber drivers I had on my trip were interesting and taught me things, so I’m glad I had the chance to ride so often. I had some really fun times explaining that Texas isn’t all bad. One guy was shocked I managed to live in a small town and not be a Christian Fascist (or whatever they’re called these days).

This mountain had a smoke ring! My friend Alice thinks it’s Mount Jefferson.

The people I talked to at my workplace were also a fun bunch. Portland seems to be crawling with musicians! And many people had horses or once did. It was fun hanging out with young parents and learning how they do things today. Lots of creativity and/or multi-generational households to handle child care.

I had an oddly frank and open conversation about life with a random punk rocker disguised as a businessman in the airport, as I mentioned above. He was a bit scattered, in a good way, and we found we had much in common. That’s what brought me back to everyone being interesting if you talk to them. So I just continued being friendly and talked to a fellow worried about his large dog traveling in the cargo hold, and I made the flight attendant so happy by asking her about her beautiful silver bracelet she was wearing, which happened to be made by a Hawaiian artist. The flight attendant was beaming as she told me how much she loved it.

Sweet stories from random people keep me hoping we can pull our society back together. Humans are not all mean and hateful like the media so often says they are.

Enough of that. I did want to share that I got to see some Oregon plants and hear some birds yesterday by taking a lunch walk. I found an area where there’s a big effort being made to restore native plants, on property the company I consult for seems to own. The plants were surrounded by two things. One was the ever-present wild blackberries. I ate a lot, since there weren’t right on the roadside and covered with automotive residues.

The other thing I saw were rows of gnarled old trees, which look like they’d been cut down to stumps but we’re trying to come back, fighting through ivy and berries. I couldn’t tell what they were, but I figured they were something that was once harvested. When I finally got to upload photos to iNaturalist, it turned out they were hazelnut trees! Before Tualatin got industrialized, it must have grown nuts. Cool.

There was also a small forest remnant next to the offices, with a short path running through it. I enjoyed seeing the ferns, evergreens, and native maples (among others).

After seeing a California Jay, another new one on my list, I felt satisfied that I’d seen at least a little nature. Then my ride to the airport, a really nice man very much like me, took us through downtown to save time, so I got a bonus tour. Yay for avoiding the crowded interstate!

There, I’m caught up, back with my animals and humans, and ready for what’s next. After some sleep!

It’s Fun to Be Friendly

I’ve been a lot more chipper the past month or two, and it seems like being cheerful is contagious. I keep having such nice conversations with strangers as I wander around Hilton Head Island. It does a great job of counteracting the harsh reality of the world outside my fragile little bubble (the current US President really doesn’t think he’s qualified to be Pope, does he?).

Much of the day was spent in my usual meditative walking and birding, but Lee and I did go out for a bit of fun, though he was feeling poorly, so he mostly sat in the car while I did things…other than the shopping.

Cute catbird I saw getting a meal (deep shade so hard to photograph).

HE wanted to go to the outlet mall. Why? To get underwear. Like a stereotypical husband, he located the store he wanted to go to, and in fewer than five minutes had purchased his favorite underwear and was done. I, of course, had barely started enjoying the wonders of the Vera Bradley outlet. Oooh, aah. I got a change purse and a 70% off blanket that matches my purse. Then I had lovely chats with the staff at the other shops I visited. They were all friendly, and I hope a cheery customer made their days a little brighter (goodness, who is this chipper writer and where did Suna go?).

Maybe this beautiful Mabel Orchard Orbweaver bit me. *Leucauge argyrobapta*

After a lunch that was either delicious (me) or disgusting (Lee) we found Jarvis Creek Park, which we’d been by many times but hadn’t visited. What an ideal place for me to go!

The park was created to preserve huge oaks.

The first thing I did, naturally, was go explore the trails by the creek. An unexpected sight was a little headquarters for feral cats, with feeding stations, little shelters, and such. I hope they trap, neuter, and release them. The cat I saw was not thrilled to have its meal interrupted.

The trail is beautiful and was chock full of birds. I got to see many of them, not just hear them, too.

The only issue was that I came across an immense fallen oak tree across the path. This was not a tree you could just step over and keep going. No, I had to crawl under it in the only crawlable space. Naturally, it being nature and all that, there was poison ivy and greenbrier all around. But someone had cut the worst briars down, so I guess the obstacle is well known. I checked for snakes and successfully negotiated it. Fun!

But it was worth it. I enjoyed all the ferns and trees.

Once I finished looking at the creek, I went on the paved trail that circles a lake made from damming the creek. There I ran into many friendly people, including a couple with two adorable, portly dachshunds. We had a nice chat, then were startled by a big plopping noise in the lake. It was a very big fish. It turns out the lake is stocked, and is catch and release, so the inhabitants are super-sized. At least next time I was prepared.

I just chatted my way around the lake. When I heard a bluebird I saw a group of folks my age sitting and looking through binoculars. I asked if they’d heard it, and one guy immediately reached for his phone. Everybody has Merlin these days (making life with birds more interesting). They were grateful and told me they come often to look at the birds.

There were many birds to see, too. I saw a Double-crested Cormorant, a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (they are so tiny), and yet another Red-shouldered Hawk that was not at all concerned about being near people. It flew right in front of me and landed on a nearby oak. I find it fascinating that the birds here are so much more comfortable around humans than the wilder ones at home. Of course, they encounter many more people on this very wooded but well populated island.

I’ll have to make this park a regular stop when I’m here again. I really enjoyed seeing the beauty. It’s next to the museum that I still haven’t gone to. You’d think I’d have seen everything here, but no, not really. I spend way too much time reading, resting, and crocheting. And it’s the end of the month! Time to finish April on the temperature blanket.

There were pink evening primroses in the wildflower area!

If you read this (and I’m back to being so boring that very few people read), go out and strike up a conversation with a stranger. There’s a good chance it will make you and the stranger have a better day!

Talking to Strangers

Describe a random encounter with a stranger that stuck out positively to you.

I’m not as big on talking to people I don’t know as other people in my family are, but I tend to do it more when we go to State Parks and camp for a few days.

People at the parks are often very friendly and interesting. My favorite memory is somewhere in this blog from last year. I’ll repeat for this prompt. I was at Pedernales Falls, and ran into a family playing in the river after I climbed down a zillion stairs to get there. Now, that was okay, because the wildflowers were so spectacular I didn’t notice.

I showed the kids some bugs going back up, and bonded with the dad o er the flowers. They asked if I’d been to the actual falls, and I said no, because it was too far to walk. So they drove me there! And we found more bugs. Dung beetles. I never saw such excited kids. We could hardly drag them away to go look at the falls!

I’ll never forget this sweet family and their dog, who sure let me know I was sitting in her spot in the car!

Today we inaugurated Hermee the Jeep as our tow vehicle and drove to Lake Whitney State park, which is west of West, Texas. We succeeded!

Here I also talked to strangers, even without Lee, who went to get supplies while I finished working and took a walk. It turns out that the large group of Texas Tech people were all band alumni who gather every year at a park. What a fun tradition!

This park is on the eastern edge of the Grand Prairie. The lake was formed by damming the Brazos River.

I also met a nice retired couple and a man with beautiful little dogs. It’s worth talking to strangers in settings where you feel safe!

The park has lots of birds, plus we saw migratory snow geese on our way to the park. I enjoyed hearing summer tanagers and seeing bluebirds and woodpeckers.

Red bellied woodpecker in action.

There are only two official trails, but there are roads and camping areas to check out, too. I won’t be bored. Here are a few views of flowers and fields.

We had a nice dinner thanks to the George Foreman grill Lee came back with. It made quesadillas. He also got a replacement for the overly cheap tiny coffeemaker we’d been using. Wow was it bad, and then it broke! we’re sticking with name brands from now on.

Later we enjoyed how dark it is here and listened to frogs. A great evening! Tomorrow maybe it will be cooler and I can work outside.