We learned that Newport was home to Oregon’s largest commercial fleet and an abundance of barking sea lions. A sign for Newport peaked my interest only because it happens to be the street name of my childhood home. The temperatures were pretty cool when that ocean wind blew so we jumped back in our rental and continued on our path south. We followed size fives as we stopped for some beach hikes at Lincoln City and at “Thar be whales” in Depoe Bay where we saw approximately half a dozen gray whales as they spouted their excess water. We headed south early the next morning to take in the sights of the Oregon coastline and pretend we were cast members from The Goonies. We arrived in Portland, Oregon and headed to a delicious dinner at the ultra-trendy Doug Fir Lounge. It’s a trip that may not be able to be duplicated, as we personally experienced the viewing of the Great American total eclipse, the Northern Lights and the Milky Way from various lighthouses along the Pacific Coast and the Rogue River. The itinerary built around the white-water rafting turned my initial pass into an acceptance and made this intense getaway a trip of pure wonder, as it aligned on so many levels, thanks to a bit of luck and a hat trick. No, this was not on my bucket list, nor have I ever really wanted to personally experience this type of activity. The main focus of my trip west was to take part in a white-water rafting adventure. From coast to coast, catastrophe was striking, so we dug in and made the best of it. In a final attempt to wring out the last moments of summer, I took a trip to the west coast of Oregon, where my travel companions and I were greeted with forest fires, and upon our return to Sarasota, we were welcomed by Hurricane Irma, which at that point was the largest hurricane on record. We stay rooted in knowing that the sacred things in life just can’t be touched. A fire or a hurricane just can’t break the spirit of an individual or alter one’s foundation.

Strangers stop what they’re doing to help other strangers. Neighbors reach out to help other neighbors. The walls within us come down whether or not the physical walls of our homes take the brunt of a hurricane or a forest fire. These days, catastrophe seems to be striking more and more, igniting compassion and the spirit to help others. Sheryl Vieira shares thoughts on the community, good deeds and important things, big AND small.

Hecta head milky way