August seemed to fly by even faster than usual this year. We kicked off the month by celebrating Ken and Jenny’s wedding anniversary at their annual two-day party at their beautiful home along the North Umpqua—just a mile downhill from us. That same weekend, we also marked the 80th birthday of our dear friend, Jim Arneson.
The following weekend, Janice and I slipped away to the Coast to celebrate our 11th anniversary, as we do every year. There’s something magical and timeless about being together by the ocean, where worries seem to be swept away with the tide.
August continued at a quick pace with plenty of projects at Umpqua Watersheds. Usually, we travel east to Minnesota for several weeks in late summer to visit family, but this year, we decided to go after the Umpqua Brew Fest, not before. We wanted to be here to attend Janice’s niece Morgan and her husband Graham’s wedding celebration (though they were quietly married nine years ago, this will be a true gathering of family and friends).
September promises to be even more eventful. Preparations for the Umpqua Brew Fest are in full swing—my 11th and final year as lead organizer and promoter of this event. There’s always pressure, especially this year with fewer beer trailers than usual, but we have a great team and over $8,000 in sponsorships secured, which eases the fundraising burden. Still, there are countless moving parts to coordinate before Saturday, September 20th!
In the midst of it all, we’ve been busy canning tomatoes and peppers from the garden, with more still to do. 🍅🌶
This weekend, we’re off on a two-day camping trip to Crater Lake to participate in the "Ride the Rim"—a 34-mile bike trip around the lake. We’ll return Sunday to work on the new stage roof for the Umpqua Outback Project, aiming for a major milestone with the soft launch of KQUA 90.5 NCE later this month.
If all goes to plan, the day after Brew Fest, Janice, Tad, Comet, and I will hop in the motorhome for a six-week road trip. I’ve had the itinerary ready for over a month: we’ll stop to see Julie Lowe’s mom in Montana, then my cousin Jesse in Brainerd, and spend three weeks in Minnesota with my sister Lynn, my son Nick (and his family), my daughter Ashley (and her boys), and—hopefully—more cousins. We’ll wind our way home via Wisconsin (to visit Janice’s cousin in Green Bay), Madison (to see Amy and Zach), and Springfield, Illinois, for some Abraham Lincoln history. Perhaps we’ll also visit Hannibal, Missouri, to take in some Mark Twain exhibits, and then head south to see Janice’s niece in Oklahoma City before crossing back through Aztec, New Mexico, and home by late October.
Our long trips are always bittersweet—a touch of sadness to leave home, mixed with the excitement of the road, time with loved ones, and the adventure of the unknown. I handle most of the planning, which helps keep Janice from feeling overwhelmed, and I find joy in shaping the journey.
Earlier tonight, we shared a meal with our dear friend and best man, Mike Burke. I made tamales, and we reminisced about our whirlwind 900-mile weekend trip, including camping at Chico Rice near Willows, California—a Harvest Host site that welcomes travelers for a night in exchange for supporting local products. Mike, who grew up in Willows and harvested rice in the 1960s, enjoyed the stories and the organic rice we brought back. We sent him home with his usual "care package" of leftovers, grateful for a moment of quiet connection before the next busy stretch.
And so, in the swift current of these days, we hold on to each moment, knowing how quickly it all passes.
Closing Reflection
In the swirl of busy days and long miles, I am reminded of the gift of presence—how each gathering, garden harvest, and shared meal is a stitch in the tapestry of our lives. However quickly time may pass, the bonds we nurture, the roots we tend, and the memories we create will linger long after the calendar page turns.
