Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge

Day Two

February 22, 2014

Soundtrack:

• Arcade Fire -- The Suburbs

My grandmother passed away.  I made this trip up to Oregon to attend her funeral.  This was the day of her service.  I spent the morning at Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge just South of Salem.  As you can probably imagine, I was in a more contemplative mood that normal.

Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge, OR

My grandmother was ninety-six years old.  My grandfather passed away about four years ago and she has been miserable without him.  Her only wish since his passing has been to join him on the Great Golf Course in the Sky.  That's where I'm sure he must be, and although I've never known my grandmother to so much as grip a golf club, I suspect if that's where he is then surely that's where she must be as well.

Canada Goose -- Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge, OR

My grandparents met in April of 1941.  Grandpa was renting a room from a couple in Seattle.  When the younger sister of the wife he was renting the room from moved in, they started hanging out together and must have fallen in love almost immediately.  She was engaged to someone else, but she quickly broke it off and were married in August of 1941.  Can you imagine?

Red-tailed Hawk -- Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge, OR

My great-grandmother did not approve of my grandmother's decision and said she wanted nothing to do with the union.  Grandpa was a man of the world.  He smoked.  He danced.  He must have listened to that wild big band music of the era.  So I'm told, anyway, I never witnessed any such thing first-hand.  Great-Grandma did not approve of such things.  Of course, in December of 1941 the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor.  My grandfather joined the Army and was stationed in Alaska.  My father was born in July of 1942.  Grandma had to flag down a cab to take her to the hospital.

Bald Eagle -- Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge, OR

Raising a child on her own in Seattle proved to be too much for Grandma.  She sucked it up and went back to my great-grandmother, who welcomed her and the baby with open arms.  My impression of Grandma and Great-Grandma was that they were very close.  Tolerance and forgiveness are two of life's most important gifts.  Apply liberally whenever and wherever needed.

Red-tailed Hawk -- Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge, OR

As you can see, I didn't get any great pictures from this morning spent at the refuge.  It was time well spent, though, as I reflected on the passing of one of the most important people in my life.