Found: Notes from Mount Saint Helen's explosion -

I was driving to church with the kids, turned the corner on Cornell Road moments after it blew. I sight never to be forgotten.

I was only 7 at the time, and I lived in SE Portland at the time. I remember three things distinctly:

1) My dad showing me the eruption cloud from somewhere in the city. I was impressed.

2) Seeing people on street corners selling dust masks.

3) Seeing about 1/4 of ash over everything one morning.

I can still feel the whole thing as I sat in my kitchen that morning, watching it on tv, wondering what the heck was going to happen next. My father had gone to Seattle, and wasn't able to get back home because I-5 was closed. Later that day we drove up on to Mt. Scott to watch. The roiling of the ash cloud over the mountain was just so alive and ominous looking. Spooky.

I remember watching the eruption from the third floor of a Senior Care facility in Sandy,Oregon. Had a perfect panoramic view of the entire mountain. Or what was left of it anyways. I remember seeing it whole the day before.

I was a teen when Mt St Helens erupted. I remember the weeks leading up to it. We were pretty sure it was going to blow (well I was). I don't remember a quake cycle immediately preceding the eruption. I have often wondered if any other local giants would stir again in my lifetime. Human life and geologic time are at opposite ends of the scale. Witnessing such cataclysmic forces of nature is a rare event for those who do not seek them out.

threes

Sunday. Things in threes: Miss Beckett and I took a little trip to the dollar store to procure 20 brooms for my Process Mundane workshop for the Open Engagement Conference. They had exactly 20 brooms at one dollar a piece (sometimes the dollar store charges MORE than a dollar for their goods - es no bueno). I stuffed them all into my cart then weaved through aisles while accidentally knocking into people and things with protruding broom handles. 

I processed Process Mundane in front of a few friends and strangers and for the first time ate a chocolate covered banana. It wasn't exactly the turnout I expected, but we had a blast sweeping the room together and I'm motivated to continue building upon the project.

We've had a talented Australian artist, Rebecca Conroy, staying with us throughout the duration of the conference. She and I have had some sparkly banter about Indonesia, social practice, and Anne of Green Gables. After Portland, she's off to Detroit and a few other US cities for a few more art happenings. 

moon

To build Beckett's brain power using repetition, I've read Goodnight Moon to her every night since she was 3 days old. As you can probably imagine, this nightly task gets a little old. So to make the experience more interesting for the both of us, I've been experimenting with different voices, tones, pitch, and vocal speed while reading to her. It's made Goodnight Moon something to look forward to each night. Here's a little video of part of the process for your viewing pleasure.