A Visit to Vashon Island

Puget Sound from Vashon Island

         Three weeks ago I was a guest in a beautiful home on the southern California coast and last weekend I was the guest of old friends on Vashon Island in Puget Sound. In both places I had a room with a glassed in deck overlooking the water. Heaven! Twice in one month!  But even better than the view was being in the company of friends. 

The Path Leading to the Beach

Vashon Island

January 19, 2015

Sheets of rain

Distort the view

Of Puget Sound.

A wooden raft bobs on rough water

And low clouds weave fog tendrils

Through the evergreen trees

Last night’s hurricane winds

Littered the deck

With forest debris

And now, through the bare woods,

The rising sun

Pierces the forest with golden rays

And a brilliant rainbow

Arches in the wet western sky.

Inside

We cradle our Seattle’s Best

And our talk ping pongs

Through the decades:

The wars and racial tensions

The politics and jobs

And now the deaths of the old ones

And births or our children’s children.

We share our joys and sorrows

Our strengths and vulnerabilities

As we hold each other close

In this company of friends.

****************************************************

Riding the Ferry

Untethered

On rough water

My soul

Catches the wind

And rejoices.

Leaving the Ferry Dock