From Airplanes to Spaceships
We stood staring at the tiny space capsule, wondering how a man could fit inside and not go crazy in such a small space. We gazed at giant rockets, a replica of a moon landing vehicle and even saw up close what the early astronauts ate and how they handled their waste. Walking through the exhibits from the earliest ventures into space through the moon landings and today's space stations, we followed the amazing journey of men brave enough to squeeze into spaceships and be blasted into the air, knowing they might never return.
If you haven't been to the Evergreen Aviation Museum in McMinnville, OR lately, put it on the to-do list. Since our last visit, the original museum, home of Howard Hughes' famous Spruce Goose airplane, has been joined by a new space museum and an I-Max theater, with more attractions to come. Tickets have doubled in price, but it's worth it.
I took my father and brother there April 29. Dad served in the Army-Air Corps during World War II and worked on planes just like the ones in the museum. He loves to talk about those days, especially with other airplane buffs who share his enthusiasm. Mike and I were more interested in the space era because we watched it happen on TV..
It was a beautiful day, the Willamette Valley looking its springtime best, with miles of green fields, red barns and beautiful farmhouses, and of course we were together, which makes everything special. During our visit we saw all the usual sights and gift shops, ate far too much wonderful food, talked, sat in the sun, and played with the dogs. Mike became so enchanted with Oregon's marionberry pies that he bought a couple plants to grow his own marionberries.
As my brother's giant red 4x4 pickup turned the corner, heading home, I sighed, and walked back across the cracked driveway to my house. It can be a lonely place, but I was grateful that for a while, it was filled with Fagaldes.
Now it's quiet and cloudy again, but that has its blessings, too.
Adventures of Annie and Chico
Aside from many Chico leaps over the old fence when I wasn't looking, the pups had a pretty quiet month. I do believe the destruction is easing, now that they are 14 months old. Or maybe there's just nothing left to chew up. I went to put out chairs for visitors and discovered one had a short leg and big tooth marks on it. Oh, and Annie managed to chew enough of my latest royalty check that the bank wouldn't take it and I had to beg for a new one. I sent the evidence to the publisher and received a new check. I caught Annie running around with another white envelope in her mouth, but I'll never know what it was. As I chased her, she swallowed the whole thing. They're both dozing in the sun right now on their new concrete I've dubbed the dog patio.
Writing News
Aside from my blogs, Freelancing for Newspapers, Childless by Marriage and Unleashed in Oregon, I'm not publishing a lot these days. Too much family activity, but it's going to happen soon. I did participate in the Poem a Day Challenge hosted by Writer's Market editor Robert Brewer on his Poetic Asides blog. With a trip to San Jose mid-month for my Aunt Edna's funeral and company here all last week, I fell behind and didn't do all 30 assignments, but I did turn out 18 poems, which isn't so bad. Of course they're not all prize-winners, but you have to do a lot of sketches to create a masterpiece.
My final column in The Scriptorium is now online. "Everyone Wants to Teach you to Write" is a cautionary tale. As in any business there are folks out there wanting to take your cash for classes, books and programs that are not worth the money.
Music News
The open mic at the Red Door has come and gone. The restaurant owners have decided not to stay open through dinner. It was nice while it lasted.
I have signed on to play for the 2009 Samaritan House Garden Tour. It benefits the homeless shelter in Newport. This year the gardens will be in Siletz, a nearby Native American town to the east I have done this event for several years, and it's always fun, especially if it doesn't rain. Details to come next month.
Oregon Coast Writing Events
The coast chapter of Willamette Writers meets again on May 5 with the ever-delightful Bob Welch, author and columnist for the Eugene Register-Guard. Bob has a new book Pebbles in the Water which talks about the process of writing his previous book about a World War II nurse, American Nightingale: The Story of Frances Slanger, Forgotten Heroine of Normandy. The meeting takes place at the Newport Library. The doors open at 6:30 p.m. for snacks and socializing, and the program begins at 7. Admission is free and open to all.
On June 2, we'll welcome poet Sage Cohen, who just published Writing the Life Poetic.
Nye Beach Writers held its fourth annual Instant Haiku Slam classic last month at Café Mundo. I was in San Jose, so I missed it, but I hear it was fabulous. This month, they get back to the usual readings at the Newport Visual Arts Center on May 16 with poets Jessica Lamb and John Witte, followed by an open mic. Admission is $5, and the program starts at 7 p.m.
Book Reports
Letters from Madelyn: Chronicles of a Caregiver by Elaine K. Sanchez, Beautiful America Publishing Co., 2007. A book of letters can be risky. If the letters aren't good, the book won't be good, but these are wonderful letters. Madelyn is the author's mother. Caring for her husband Quentin, who suffered a series of strokes, she releases her thoughts, her worries and the latest news in long letters to her family. Sanchez has taken the best of them and arranged them to tell the story of five years of hardship. In another writer's hands, they might be filled with worry and self-pity, but Madelyn takes it all with positive thoughts and religious faith and often with humor. Even when Quentin is wetting the bed or falling or when her own health suffers, Madelyn keeps up a positive spirit. Her letters are fun to read and it's easy to zip through this book in no time because you keep turning the page, always wanting to know what's going to happen next.
Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck, Viking Press, 1962. I love this book. Steinbeck's language is like liquid gold, so beautiful and flowing, yet it doesn't keep his stories from being easy to read and understand. This memoir of his trip around the country in his truck and camper "Rocinante" with his black poodle Charley is a very honest account. He shares the beautiful and the ugly with us, from the generosity of people he meets to the loneliness and worries that haunt him and the horror of the 1960s race riots. It is as meaningful in 2009 as it was in 1962.
End Notes
Fred is still at Graceland and seems to be adapting. He has been helping the owner, Rick, build a greenhouse out back, and we go on occasional adventures together. He struggles with his situation and his decreasing skills, but he still appreciates his friends and family.
Happy May 1 birthday to my dad and also happy birthday to Ted Lick, John Garcia and everybody else celebrating birthdays this month. Happy 24th anniversary to Fred and me on the 18th. Congratulations to cousin Jenny on your Magna Cum Laude graduation from Florida State University.
Adeus, Aunt Edna. We miss you.
Enjoy the weather and especially treasure your loved ones this month.
Hugs,
Sue
All contents copyright 2009, Sue Fagalde Lick, except mug shot courtesy Teresa Grady
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