A Filled Cup

After a long cool spring and then days of blasting heat, it’s easy to feel like Oregon has almost as many faults as a living environment as any other location. Then comes along one of those perfect days when the weather lines up with the activities you have planned and even the stars on your side.

I just spent one of those days, when and where it wouldn’t have been expected. It was the Fourth of July and I was scheduled to be at the Oregon Author’s table during the Art and Vineyard Festival in Alton Baker Park. Remembering the July heat from other years and knowing the crowd would be swollen with visitors from the Olympic Trials going on across the river, I had mixed emotions.

Alton Baker Park is nestled on the north bank of the Willamette River and it is a beautiful park all the time. With a pond, mallards to watch, shade trees and large grassy areas bounded by the river, it’s a popular place. I love to walk or bike there and even attend summer concerts. On a slightly cooler day, which it was for the festival, there aren’t many places better unless you are seeking solitude.

The weather and location were both in my favor. Then I discovered my fellow authors at the table were generally people I knew and liked. One was a new acquaintance but inspiring. Seated nearest me were three other women I respect, both for their work and for what they give back to the community. In my often busy life, spending two hours visiting and sharing with enthusiastic women who have similar interests seldom occurs without a little guilt associated.

We shared some news of mutual acquaintances in the writing world and information on new work by outstanding contributors. The stimulating discussion at the table introduced me to ideas I’ll be carrying on into the future. Several of the comments inspired me to plan a move in a different direction. Even busy minds need an occasional wake up call. Of course my own collection of books by other authors grew again.

The out of town visitors who stopped by our tent, chatted about our city, the Olympic Trials, the river, the park and the many outstanding displays of art at the Festival. They may have also enjoyed the wine tasting but no one brought up the subject. The more comments I heard, the more I was reminded how grateful I am to be living in Oregon, particularly in Eugene. As beautiful as it is, I often take my home place for granted. Viewing it through the eyes of visitors reminds me that, in spite of a long, cold spring and blasts of heat, the rewards are tremendous. There are not many places where you can be in the heart of a city and stand on the banks of a beautiful river to watch the sun sparkling on the rapids or walk along the path at rivers edge to enjoy all the river moods.

In the park, my own walk through the art displays located several pieces that lodged in my mind and heart. However, there are built in constraints that happen when you are transporting books back and forth to a car parked up a hill and through three fields, in the trees well past the bike path. It’s probably a good thing since finding a place at home to put the pieces I admired, all of the larger size, would be nearly impossible. I did come up richer for the experience and I know where I’ll go for my next addition of blown glass.

To cap an event already much better than I expected, my last visitor was a teaching partner from awhile ago. The woman who wrote me an encouraging note after reading my first novel, and a second after the next. Her drop in surprise was thrilling because she was able to be there after a spell of health issues and even more so because she had made a special point of coming to the event to get books while I was there. I hope our short visit won’t have to quench my hunger for a longer.

When I left my seat at the author’s table so another writer could occupy the spot, I was filled to the brim. My senses satisfied for the moment by the beauty of the place, the stimulation of the company, the connection with the community of women, of other writers and the window into the world of creativity and art.

Copyright Jo-Brew
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