Barbara J. Hamby

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Pacific Northwest Rumblings

Mt. St. Helens should probably win some sort of award for creating suspense. She knows how to foreshadow with just a hint of what might happen, or not.

I’m in Seattle, at a sister’s house. All three of my sisters are here this week. We have had an annual gathering for several years. This year, we have the opportunity to offer support to my hosting sister, who lost her husband of 54 years less than two months ago. She has always been good at organizing and coping. Those skills are serving her well now. She is continuing her volunteer jobs and is supported by her children, grandchildren, and friends and neighbors of long standing. I feel comfortable that she will thrive. She will have some bad days, but she will recover.

It is strange to be in this house with my brother-in-law not here, although his presence is still all around us. His neatly arranged tools in the garage, and some of his wood carvings remind us that he is not long gone. There are lots of little things he did for my sister to make life alone easier for her. He knew for a long time that he would predecease her.

My youngest sister, who flew up here from Southern California, had a good look at our venerable volcano when the pilot tipped a wing so all the passengers could see. It was a fabulous day for flying and viewing. So far, the weather gods have been kind to us. If it rains this weekend, as predicted, I will hope it extends as far as Tigard, so our flowers will get a drink.