Lite-Side

Maryann's Musings
August Article 
Feature Writer: Maryann Galer 

 

SUMMER WINDS

     Having lived in the Chicago and Palm Springs area for many years, I felt I had become accustomed to windy weather.  It would rain and be windy; it would snow and be windy; there would be a sand storm and be windy; there would be the infamous “Santa Ana” and be windy; and for no other discernable reason it would be just plain windy!  The older I became, the windier it became – or at least that was my perception.  After spending many a vacation traveling up and down the West Coast, I found myself drawn to this lovely area we call Florence.  I vaguely remember conversations dealing with the weather here and how temperamental it could be; but, seriously, just how bad could it be compared to the disparate climates I had lived in over the years. Boy was I naïve! 

 

     Dealing with rain and wind during our somewhat elongated fall and winter months is nothing compared to those few and glorious cloudless sunny summer days with wind gusts routinely reaching up to 40+mph.  And, if you live on one of the area’s beautiful lakes as I do, need I say more – it just ups the ante, wind wise.  I have learned to be patient when the newly delivered yard bark, little by little, dissipates to the next door neighbor’s yard; when the new umbrella takes flight across the Fred Meyer’s parking lot, never to be seen again; when the runaway grocery cart unceremoniously slams against the car door; when that burger you were valiantly trying to flip on the grill quickly becomes the dog’s dinner; when your front door welcome mat is returned by the neighbor two blocks down; the fully loaded trash barrel is seen doing “wheelies” down the street; and your poor little dog is trying to navigate those last few yards uphill toward home on two legs.  I could go on and on, but you get the idea.

 

     Living in beautiful Florence sometimes has its challenges, weather wise. It gives new meaning to the adage, “If you don’t like the weather now, just wait a few minutes.”  This epithet should be emblazoned on a sign as you enter town. Why is it we think nothing of traveling in the pouring rain to a concert, a movie, the grocery store or the library; but when the tree limbs are bending to the ground and just getting into the car is a major effort due to the buffeting winds, we think twice as to whether we really need to go out for that quart of milk or loaf of bread. I have, out of frustration, learned to have a plan A and B; and, from experience, learned to switch plans “on a dime”. We have what I call the demon winds – they swirl in all directions and leave you feeling like an un-tethered kite or a loose toy top. Having an outdoor picnic is near impossible unless you bring along a roll of masking tape to hold everything down and forget having a stylish hair do – no such thing around here unless you use shellac to keep it in place.  I have finally realized I am no match for Mother Nature.  She is laughing at us all. 

My City, My Fun
Guest Writers

If you would like to be a guest writer contact
Kat at katstyledesigns@yahoo.com

Summer is a parade of old times enjoying their youth here in town. Rods and  Rhodies Annual MOOT event Saptember 9-11 is coming up

STAY CONNECTED TO TOWN ACTIVITIES

Cal's Wake up call
     There is a new voice in town to go with the new face of Florence Chamber of Commerce. In the past, I have heard Flo-Towners say they didn’t know what was going on with the businesses in town each week. You may have also heard, “why do I hear about things after they happen”?

     Those days are gone around these parts. We have a new event sheriff in town. Like clockwork once you are on his list, you are plugged–in. Once a week you get sheriff Cal Applebee’s town Weekly Blast, a rundown on who is doing what, when and how to be there. You even know where to drive in case of road blocks. In the beginning you seem pleased to be an insider. It is always comforting to be in the in-crowd. But as the weeks go on, it shows you how much you are not minding the email store. Like newspapers piling up at your door, emails pile up in your box. You start to wonder…IS IT REALLY WEDNESDAY AGAIN! Think of this as a great wake up service. No more Senior Half Timers issue for me, I will always know when Wednesday comes around. That’s trash day isn’t it? Maybe that’s the day to clean my emails.

Want to be on Cal's wake up list?
You’ve got to be a town insider. Call Cal, he will be happy to sign you up.

Cal Applebee, Executive Director, Florence Area Chamber of Commerce  541 -997 3128 , and a real nice guy.

Kat Cunningham is a writer, artist and store owner living on the Oregon coast in scenic Florence.