My daughter's class took a field trip to Sauvie Island yesterday, and I was one of the chaperones. Located just ten miles out of town, Sauvie Island is a wildlife and agricultural haven. The u-pick farms are a particularly popular destination for locals during the summer and fall months.
The school bus dropped us off at the historic Bybee Howell house. Built in 1856, the restored house is now owned by the Oregon Historical Society. As I peered through the windows, I was saddened to see that the house sat unfurnished and unoccupied. It's no longer open to the public, but folks can still walk around the grounds and pick fruit (free of charge) from the small orchard in the back.
Standing on the back porch of the house and looking out, I imagined that living on Sauvie Island a century ago wasn't all too different from what it's like today- kids chasing each other between trees, flocks of canada geese flying overhead, and the sound of the autumn leaves rustling in the wind. For just a moment, I basked in the timelessness.
I love living in the city, but I also love to retreat to the country. Time is measured by the digital world in one place and by seasons in the other. Since I'm not ready to give up my urban lifestyle quite yet, I am thankful to have a place like Sauvie Island just a short drive away.
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