Yesterday I headed towards Fir Island, with the vague mission of finding snow geese. Other than some flocks flying overhead, and in a field far away, I did not see any snow geese. But I did find some other cool magic.

I started my adventure with a quick walk on the Padilla Bay Dike Trail. This is where I saw some snow geese flying overhead, and saw a flock out in the distance, on the other side of the water.

After my walk, I stopped at the La Conner-Swinomish Library to see if I could find my books there – and look! I’m shelved right next to Anne Lamott! How cool is that?!

I also stopped in to see Jolyne at the broadband office while I was in La Conner. Jolyne and I are on different sides of the political divide, but we’ve managed to maintain our friendship through all the ups and downs of the last several years, and I’ve really appreciated her thoughtfulness to me as she’s seen me struggle with current events. This time she went back into her office and came out with a little journaling book for me, and then we exchanged a much-needed hug. A gift!

As I was headed towards Fir Island, I passed by what used to be the old Rexville Grange – a quick look showed me there were people going into a store there, and I made a note to check it out on my way back.

I got as far as the Snow Goose Produce stand. It was closed, and, alas, there were no snow geese to be seen. So I headed back, and turned in at the store I’d passed earlier. It’s called The Rex Bistro now – and it was the exactly right place I needed to get myself a mocha and a treat (a raspberry crumble bar), and to sit and ponder. There’s an outside eating area there, under a roof, and I sat by one of the patio heaters and listened to the rain pattering on the roof, and felt myself relax into the peaceful ambiance. It was mellow and wonderful.

I maybe sat there for a half an hour, just listening to the rain, and watching the flames in the patio heaters. Then I headed back down Best Road and ended up at (surprise!) Christianson’s Nursery. There was a man moving trees out into the path there – and I asked him if someone had bought them. He told me that they’d gotten too big for their little pots and were being transplanted to bigger ones. And when I looked at these trees that made sense. Jesse and I introduced ourselves then, and I learned that he had once been a teacher, too! We exchanged teacher stories – agreeing that it was the students we’d worked with who had made our jobs so fun.

My soul all filled up with the sound of pattering rain, the sight of trees ablaze in their autumn finery, a hug from an old friend, and an exchange of teacher stories with a new friend, I headed back home – where the cats greeted me at the door, ready for lunch.