Family Fun in Boardman?...60º

Boardman is not much of a city, only a wide spot in the road, hot and dry, next to the freeway on the way to Portland...Why would we pick such a spot for a family gathering?..In the passed 30 years, since our kids left the nest, we have met in many different spots along the Columbia River in the "Gorge" for a family gathering...Herb and I driving from Joseph, Bobi from Portland and Rusty from Bend...We have met at Rufus, Arlington etc, at cafes or packed a picnic and found a shady spot for a few hours...Anyway you look at it we all drive for 3 hours, spend three hours eating and visiting and then drive three hours to get back to our respective homes...Family visits are important to us!

Yesterday was no different and we now know that Boardman is the closest to half-way for all of us to travel and meet...Also BM has a great little drive-in famous for its Bozo Burgers and milkshakes and it has a lovely city park, marina and RV park right on the river...Lots of shade trees, pavilions, tables, bathrooms and a swimming beach...Herb and I selected a spot, we brought lawn chairs, a tablecloth of sorts, Bobi and Ci brought napkins, forks, plates and a chocolate cake, Rusty paid for the burgers, milkshakes and tatertots...Not much of this had been planned out except that we were meeting for Bozo Burgers, the rest just happened.

Our family had all been together in Joseph in June but we got together yesterday to give "The Girl" (Cienna) a sendoff, get a final hug, made her promise to write in her blog once a week for the next year, while she makes her home in Thailand on a Rotary Exchange...She will spend the year with one or more host families, going to a Thai school, immerseing herself in the Thai culture and eating real Thai food and visiting sights that we only dream about...So we her family will be waiting breathlessly for these weekly blogs to keep in touch because Rotary tries to keep family contact to a minimum for at least the first three months so this Exchange Student will have to embrace her host family which includes parents, three year old boy, with a baby boy expected in September and a sister (also a Rotary Exchange student living with them for a few more months) from South Africa...Oh My!

Cienna and her family are excited beyond words and have been preparing for this departure for over a year now, from the time she applied and was chosen for this incredible opportunity...Are we really prepared?...As much as we possible can be...Our goodbyes were exchanged, no tears shed, only good wishes, spread those wings, keep your head on straight, make the most of this opportunity and fly away so you can return and share this incredible journey with us....A chance of a lifetime and a year of tremendous growth as you leave this familiar nest, Cienna keep your enthusiasm and adventurous spirit, you are destined to experience great things and above all Cienna, keep a sense of humor and smiling that gorgeous smile...Hugs to You...OWAV:)

Ci and Oma

Keeping Cool

Fly away Ci