18
in other words
january11
2011
New in Town: Seasons Heavings and a Joyful New Year
By Shannon Romtvedt
Along with presents, family
members passed around the flu this
Christmas. I don’t recommend the gift
exchange, but it’s hard to avoid once
the cute little toddler gets the bug. I’ve
spent nine wonderful, mostly-white
Christmases in Eastern Oregon and
despite nausea, we had a great time once
again. Nevertheless, before leaving my
in-laws house, we all decided to have
Christmas in Vernonia next year to try
something new. I agreed heartily, wishing
I could beam myself, husband, and
vehicle there immediately. Eight hours
later, my wish was granted.
To say I was “never so happy to
be home” is a slight exaggeration, but it
captures the feeling I had pulling into my
driveway. I’d driven most of the day in
the snow/rain/ice with queasy husband
in the passenger seat. My neck and
back ached wretchedly from tensing in
statue position and my head was raging.
I’m not known for driving prowess on a
good day, and the combo of poor road
THE
By Lynn Berry
conditions and illness took its toll.
Thankfully, downtown Vernonia
is cheery and festive in December,
brightening weary travelers as they make
their way home. I appreciate everyone’s
hard work and holiday spirit and I’m
looking forward to the opportunity to
spend December close to home next
year. I enjoy the lights and decorated
windows in downtown businesses and
love driving across the bridge at night to
see the red and green lanterns. On our
way home from work, my husband and
I cheer bright houses and boo “humbug
streets.” Nothing against bulbless
homes, but an entire neighborhood
without a single twinkle? Baffling.
A few days before Christmas,
my husband and I hosted our first
solstice party. Among other things, we
had a Yule log, a lunar eclipse, and a
toast to the upcoming year. On the Yule
Log, attendees tucked two notes under a
string, one with something they wanted
to leave behind and one with something
to embrace. While watching the notes
sizzle in the fire, I wondered why we
burn what we desire along with our
cast-offs. Seems like it would be more
appropriate to eat the paper or tattoo the
words to a body part, not that I offered
up either suggestion.
New Year’s Day, I took a walk
with my husband up Keasey Road in
search of a fresh route. It’s easy to find
a new trail to hike at this point because
there are so gosh darn many. We steered
off the main drag to the right and plodded
a ways up an overgrown logging road.
Five steps past elk prints and droppings,
we found an animal trail clearly cut up
a steep hillside. We followed the trail,
amazed to find switchbacks. Makes
sense that a hoofed beast would need to
take a turn or two to break up the incline,
but it’s the first time I thought about it.
After scrambling up a half mile
or so, I stepped up onto the ridge and then
onto a stump, just to be on the highest
point possible. Like most viewpoints
in the surrounding areas of Vernonia, it
was varied and beautiful. Open fields in
the valley with a spattering of rooftops,
rolling hills with different stages of tree
INKWELL
The New Year has arrived. Most of the
holiday decorations have been tucked away, and
thoughts of the past year are now shifting toward the
year ahead.
Although the holidays have passed, we are still able
to carry on the magical qualities that the holidays
awaken within each of us, such as kindness, tolerance,
charity, and lovingness. As most know, our actions,
small or large, affect the universe in ways not yet
understood,
similar to a pebble being dropped
in a pond; the pebble being dropped is our actions,
and the ripple effects of the water are the result of
those actions, moving out from the source to far and
beyond.
Writing is much like this as well. As history has
shown, the pen can be a powerful source to express,
change, move, and create the ripples needed within
ourselves, others, and our community, reaching even
further than we ever intended. All you need to do
is pick up a pencil, pen or start clattering on the
keyboard, and get writing! Again, I urge all of you
to practice this incredible, beautiful, and powerful art
form.
Below, local resident, Joan Gailic, has written an
inspiring poem titled “Always,” very apropos for
STARTING AT
$29.95
UP TO 5 QT.
58605 NEHALEM HWY. S.
503/706/9409
------ Joan Gailic
Always
Always have hope in the things that you
do
Always believe that you can make it
through
Remember the past and learn as it
teaches
And you’ll grasp wisdom’s hand as it
unfolds and reaches
Look towards the future with no worry
or fears
For living each day brings it’s own many
tears
Reach to the heavens, follow your
dreams
We’ll keep going on no matter how hard it
seems
Our life is not over till we take our last
breath
E
C
I
V
SER PAIR
& RE
LUBE, OIL
& FILTER
WHILE YOU WAIT
There will be much we can do till the
second of death
So keep up your spirit and live life with
love
Remembering that no matter what we can
always rise above
the New Year. In Gailic’s poem, the difficulties of
achieving one’s aspirations are paired with the hope
of perseverance in tightly-rhymed couplets. This
is an excellent example of how poetic structure
can reinforce and strengthen the meaning of the
poem. Just as struggle and perseverance are joined
inextricably with hope, so too are Gailic’s lines drawn
together by a rhyme scheme that keeps them united to
a single theme.
VERNONIA
Now I
have to
replace it!
growth, dustings of snow and mist in the
distant mountains.
Instead of sliding down the way
we came, we looped around and found
another road home. Snow still covered
paths on the ridge, making it easy to spot
tracks. We followed a coyote chasing
a bunny back and forth along the road.
Four thick lines scooped together into a
bunch every few human steps, followed
closely by a small paw or two. In my
story, the bounding bunny tricked the
cagey coyote and made an escape. There
was no evidence to prove me wrong.
I’m not sure if revealing a
Yuletide wish is bad luck. Words burned
brightly in flame for a reason. But I’ll
take a risk and share with you my hope
for 2011. I want to carry joy into the
New Year. I want to experience joy in
little moments throughout the day, in
sharing good times with family, friends,
and neighbors, and in appreciating the
mystery, magnificence, and story in
nature. As far as I can tell, I think I’m
off to a good start.
---Writer’s Idea: Write a piece, from your own
experience, where you were inspired to move onto
another path in your life’s journey. Many of us have
experienced these shifts and have stories to tell. When
we tell them, we all learn from one another.
---Writer’s Tip: Rhyming can be a way to create
rhythm and interest in your poem or lyric. Start by
writing only two lines, making sure the last words
rhyme, and then continue from there. You will soon
be surprised how this method sparks the creative-self
living deep within each one of us!
---Please send your original submissions to, (or if
you would like a copy of any of the published poems
in their entirety), InkwellVernonia@msn.com or
by mail: PO Box 333 Vernonia, OR 97064. Please
include your name and contact information. Write—
Express--Expand.
Lynn Berry holds an M.A. in English, specializing in
feminist literature and literary criticism. She has spent
several years teaching Literature, Composition, Poetry,
Creative Writing, and Critical Thinking at various school
districts and colleges, and occasionally provides writing
workshops.
We fix
rock chips
before
your
windshield
cracks.
Terry’s
Gym
TRAIN LIKE A CHAMPION!
Call us
StPierreGraphics@aol.com
Meyer’s Auto Body, Inc • 493 Bridge St•
VERNONIA • 503-429-0248
INBA World Champion Collin Moeller
works out at Terry’s Gym - You can too!
503-901-1705
16720 Noakes Rd. Vernonia
