Oregon

After leaving Mount Shasta I felt amazing. I was peaceful and excited. I drove north to Ashland, Oregon to check out the Shakespeare Festival. I hadn't purchased tickets for "Romeo and Juliet" because I wasn't sure what my time frame would be. I am a romantic at heart and never tire of the story. I would have liked to have seen it but it wasn't to be. Instead I wandered about the shops and cafes in a blissful state. The weather was perfect, the time of day was lovely and I was floating in and out of shops.

By sunset it was time to move on. I drove into to Medford and checked into a cheap hotel for the night. I was asleep by 10.

Monday morning I left Medford and headed East. I wanted to see Klamath Falls. I expected there to be actual "Falls" but that turned out not to be the case. What I did see was well worth the drive. I happened upon a ground breaking ceremony for their Veterans Park. I watched five or six guys in army fatigues setting up chairs and a podium. 30 or so folding chairs sat under the shade of giant trees right next to the river. A plot of grass had been dug out and six shovels lay in a row. Some tables were set up and a banner hung. "Buy A Brick for Our Veterans Memorial" A poster was hanging that showed the design of what was coming and it was huge.

Next to the podium were 18 chairs, nine on each side. One by one people came and filled the seats. Many were in uniform. The color guard was brought to attention and we all stood as they brought out our flag and the flags of the different branches of the military. We all stood for the singing of our National Anthem. I am a very patriotic person. I'm often moved to tears at these things. I managed to stay composed, however.

After the opening ceremony and the initial speech from one of the men who was on the committee for this project, another man was introduced. He was a Vietnam Veteran who had been one of the first to be captured by the enemy. He was held in solitary confinement for four and a half years then moved to Hanoi. He spent a total of seven years as a POW. He told a story that sounded familiar to me. He was in his cell, alone, when he heard a knock. The old American knock familiar to a certain generation or two...."Shave and a haircut" He knocked back..."Two bits"
It turns out, this guy was in the cell next to John McCain. His story of torture and abuse made me think of the weekends meditation. ...Anyway, the ceremony ended with a serviceman from each branch marching out and taking a shovel. Simultaneously they made the first cut into the ground for the new memorial.

I love my country. I support our veterans and our active military. But, torture and abuse I will never support.

I left the park and walked over to the museum and spent an hour looking at the Native American History of art and artifacts. I have an affinity for the Native American people. It's in my blood. My father's grandmother was a native. It's funny. One one side of my family, my mother's side, the bloodline goes back to the 1600s invasion at Plymouth Rock. On my father's side, the Native American genocide. No wonder I'm conflicted! I'm often restimulated when I see the Native American photos and art. I've had more than a few lifetimes in America before it was The United States. I left the museum feeling anxious so I took a long walk to look at the architecture of the some of the historical buildings. Klamath Falls is doing a great job of restoring the old buildings and maintaining them. I stopped for lunch then headed back to my car after a few purchases along the way.

Next stop? Crater Lake!