Reunited

It couldn't last forever; two relaxing days and nights alone were our allotted share of bliss. And we were ready to see our children; it seemed like a long time since we had heard their voices, hugged and kissed them and simply enjoyed life with them. We said good-bye to our quiet room with the sunset view and went winding down the coast highway.

We got to our rendezvous spot early. My task was a serious one: espresso location and acquisition, preferably from a small, non-franchised cafe; the Beach Dog Cafe did not disappoint. When I entered I felt as if I had arrived at The Local in Mitford, although I can't imagine that the Local serves espresso. The bright yellow walls, covered with photos of every imaginable dog breed, created a cheerful environment for plenty of elderly regulars and a handful of us out-of-towners asking for that new-fangled coffee drink; it was a cafe worth patronizing.

We awaited the arrival of the mega-van with our lattes in hand. The sun was shining, the wind was blowing, and the time was crawling . Finally, from behind a hanging basket of purple and pink petunias, The Van appeared. Cries of "DADDY! MOMMY!" came from the back seats, and as the van rolled to a stop we were able to hug and kiss and talk to our hearts' content. It is said that it is always grey and cold on the Oregon coast in the summertime; this was, once again, revealed to be a plot to keep Californians back in the oven they call home. Blue sky, kept cool by the blowing wind, and the warm sand provided a perfect place for a picnic (a sandy, high-maintenance picnic, but happy none-the-less.)

After we said our good-byes to all, and thank-yous to the adopted aunt and uncle who paved the way for such a happy handful of days, we were on our way north to the next destination. We drove back through the town where we had spent our anniversary. Where would you go on the Oregon Coast if your last name was Wheeler? To Wheeler, of course. And where did we choose to stay?



We walked the streets feeling famous, and we had to capture the perfect photo opportunity after dinner:



We heard the best confession possible as we drove: "I didn't really miss you at all, Mommy. It was such fun!" Is it any wonder we could relax without our children when we knew that their time would be filled like this? Okay, so this was the oldest and her pals, but just imagine the early teen male version, the ten-year-old girl version, the seven-year-old boy version...and there you have it.

From where I sit right now, I can see the tip of Haystack Rock. Two children are learning Monopoly from Daddy, two are playing chess, one is reading. The sun is shining (again) and we still have another week of Oregon time ahead of us. Can you tell I am unaccustomed to so much vacation?