Face in Tree -- With DRAMA

I saw this face in a tree in Canby on my way to Gleaners.
So on my way home you KNOW I just had to stop, park, walk over and take his photo. It would take just a minute or two ....

I should have known better.

On the way back to my car, I noticed a loud monsterous truck tailgating a small black car, vrooming and weaving back and forth, while the car tried to dodge him. "Crazy teenagers" I thought to myself.

I got back in the car and pulled out. I heard sirens in the distance so I sat and waited. Cars pulled over for whatever emergency vehicles were converging.

Of course ALL 3 sheriff cars, 1 state police car and a motorcycle cop converged right in front of me. A woman jumped out of one of the pulled-over cars and yelled "that's him! Over there! In the big black truck!" Uh oh, had I witnessed part of a hit and run? I pulled back to the curb.

Turns out a woman's ex-husband had (allegedly) tried to take their kids from the local middle school and when the ex-wife and current husband tried to intervene he punched out the drivers side window of their car. Then he chased them down the street, trying to hit them with his truck. That was the part I saw.

I ended up having to stay and give my statement to the police.

This all happened just hours after Dad had a small stroke. He was still in the ER and I had been in a little bit of a hurry to get home ... in case I was needed.

WHAT. A. DAY.

DAD IS GOING TO BE OKAY. He had a minor stroke, and it seems to have only affected his face and speech - he slurs a little. We just have to watch him to make sure this wasn't the warning before a big stroke.

Oh, and they caught the "bad guy" -- He went to jail.

My Dad

I hadn't seen Dad since the accident, so I jumped at the chance to drive down to my sister's house for a BBQ and visit. Dad was able to get up and go outside to the back deck - for the first time! We had a great visit, and my brother Mark surprised us by driving down all the way from his home in the Columbia Gorge.

There was a lot of family 'catching up' done, and dad enjoyed every minute. It's hard to believe that 3 weeks ago, this wonderful vibrant man was hurt so badly. Isn't he the cutest "grampa" ever?

Memorial Day

Today is the day we remember and thank our fallen soldiers.

I would also like to extend my remembrance and thanks to those soldiers who did not die in battle ... who came home to lead separate lives.
Because they carried home the "ultimate sacrifice", and somehow managed to live with it the rest of their lives.

I also thank the families of ALL soldiers -- those lost in battle, and those who came home changed. Because when you see what these brave soldiers have seen, have done what they had to do ... you die a little. It may not show for years; the scars stay hidden in their hearts. And their families who see (and saw) them suffer, also feel the pain.

On a personal note ...
Thank you to my grandfather, who served in WWI.
Thank you to my father, who served in WWII (and was a POW).
And thank you to my ex-husband, who served in the first Gulf War.

You have my everlasting gratitude.