There’s nice weather at the Oregon coast sometimes. Sunny, nice breeze, on the verge of being warm. I don’t know that I’ve ever been out at the coast when it’s been that way. Then there’s average weather at the coast. It may or may not be sunny, but there is a stiff wind that may or may not have a bite to it. You can do fun stuff like sandcastles and wading (if you dare), but it’s not like the beach of your dreams. Then there’s stormy weather at the Oregon coast. Like nice weather, I hadn’t ever really experienced it—until this weekend.

We’d been cooped up in the house for all of Friday evening and Saturday morning, so Rosie decided to lead a crusade to walk the stormy beach. She succeeded in getting all of us out there except Emily who is recovering from a broken leg. It was nasty: gailing winds, with sharp, biting rain. Matt said it was the second-worst experience of his life. It was sort of fun, though not altogether comfortable. It was so violent. Wind like that is so fierce and unrelenting. One thing I learned is that seagulls need a little running start to get up in the air. They’re like little airplanes that need a short runway.

The funny thing was, after we got done cruising Newport, we went out on the beach again—this time in the dark. And it was great. A gentle breeze, mild temperature, and not rain at all. We walked and talked a long time. And Rosie lent me good perspective on things.