A Little Slice of Heaven

 

Four Seasons is more than just a fancy hotel…here’s my two cents about it all.

As a young girl growing up in Southern California, it was all about the beaches and how often I was able to get to one of the many near by for a great day of sun and fun.  But as time and life progressed, I took those endless white sand playgrounds for granted and didn’t go to the beach much at all.  I was even beginning to lose the memory of such days until our family relocated to the east coast and discovered fabulous Cape Cod.

“The Cape”, so affectionately referred to, was the closest place to those So Cal beaches I had been able to find along the coast line of Massachusetts.  The tall sand grass blowing in the hot summer breezes was just enough to take me back to my younger years and sunning ways.  We vacationed every summer in North Falmouth and made day trips by ferry to Martha’s Vineyard.  Although the ferry docks in Oaks Bluff’s we were most fond of Edgartown with all its shops and restaurants. 

So when I started my personal “bucket list” this past year, I was very happy to be able to mark off living on the east coast.  I’m not too sure I’d ever live there again, full time, but it was definitely an A in my grade book of experiences. 

I now find myself feeling truly blessed to live in the state of Oregon where all four seasons are represented in true fashion.  Just when I’ve decided that the fall season is my favorite; with New England style foliage and brisk, cool sunny days, the majestic icon of Mt. Bachelor reminds me of why winter always take the lead, at least for now. 

This past Thanksgiving was an extra bonus for the family during our annual weekend getaway to Sunriver, in central Oregon, when Bachelor opened a majority of the mountain’s ski runs early.  Not only was the snow great, the weather fit the perfect description of what us locals call a “blue bird day”.  For any of you out there that have had the pleasure to ride or ski there know this can be a very rare occasion.  Let me help paint the picture of such a day:  “Clear, blue skis with a small scattering of white fluffy clouds mixed with a temperature in the low 30’s and little to no winds.”  Top that off with four inches of fresh, new snow the night before and you have a little slice of heaven, right here on earth.

When my family got the word in 1998 that we were moving to Oregon, several of our friends were quite jealous and described the Pacific NW as Gods’ Country. 

I now know that is true.