Catching Up

Sorry for my tardiness in posting. We have spent the past two days at Chris and Shannon's home and it has been a wonderful time of laughter, catching up, and the irreplaceable quality of simple time spent together.

Marley and Chris spent much of Friday downtown, first at Mars Hill and then at Chris' art school just down the street. While she was gone, our Tribe merged with our campground neighbors, Sandi and her mixed clutch of boy and girl scouts who were enoying a few days by the lake. Sandi is a brave and sturdy woman, who has had her share of hard times, but remains with a genuine smile and still-intact heart of gold herself. Five years ago, she adopted Anthony, now 10, who was rescued from a living nightmare.

I got to spend some time talking with our other neighboors, as well, Kyle and his cousin Scott. Kyle is a economic major at Pacific Lutheran University, where Shannon works. He has Keanau Reeves quiet smartness to him, but also warm and friendly. We talked for more than an hour on everything from faith to photography. He was also kind enough to give me directions to the one of the secrets of the area, a set of falls not far away where that you hike behind the falling water. I hope we can make it out there before we leave.

Marley returned from her day downtown with a wonderful glow in her eye, overflowing with excited, almost giddy, energy. The Mars Hill that she saw in person seemed to match in every way the school that lived in only knowledge from afar and her imagination.

We made our way to C&S's home that evening for one of the best meals of our trip -- Shannon grilled Salmon with chipotle berry sauce, couscous, salad and fantastic wine.

Yesterday, we hiked Rainier, making our way to the appropriately named Paradise, where most of the summit expeditions begin their long treks to the top. We climbed deep into the snow line where, after cresting a high ridgeline, Chris and the kids did some back and butt sledding. There were of course the obligatory snowball fights and much Winter-in-June merriment, as well.

Again, though, the best part of the past few days has been time with Chris & Shannon. It has been wonderful to see the home they have made. It is a comfortable place, casually elegant with refinement of style that I think Marley and I are still trying to achieve in our own home. Everything from the choice of furniture, colors, artwork and the ever-present photos that adorn every room and speak of their love for each other and their rich stable of friends and family, it all comes together in a way that embraces life and living, rather than trying to contain it.

Meanwhile, their commitment to goofiness is celebrated everywhere. Things like the longhorn skull on their living room wall, wearing, of course, a cowboy hat and foam Hook 'em Horns "fanhand," perched on the left horn. Or the small framed quote from Hannah Cheatem, age 8, above the computer I'm now typing on that reads "when you get married, you have to kiss. it's the law." But especially it's in their easiness with each other and those around them, and their almost childlike joy that has kindled for me laughter that truly made like good medicine.

Today, duty has called and Chris has had to go to work. So Marley and I are taking the kids on "an explore" -- as Pooh would say -- of the Seattle area, complete with ferryboat rides and whatever else make make its way onto our path.