Hello everyone!
I’m playing a bit of catch up again! Sorry but last weekend was really crazy and then I got sick immediately afterwards. I’m starting to feel better though so here goes. I had a mellow birthday (Thursday May 31st) leaving work at noon and hiking along the Salmon River on Mt Hood. It was a very warm day out and if I’d been more appropriately dressed I would have jumped in the river. After my hike I went to Elaine and Gina’s house to discover Gina baking me cupcakes (shaped like stars even!). A bunch of Trout Lakers were coming into town as we were all leaving early Friday to head to the Frizbee Masters at Silver Falls State Park. Elaine and Gina made a fantastic make-your-own-burrito bar for dinner. After eating we hung out in the backyard around the fire, heading to bed early so we could get on the road early for the Masters.
I left with Gina around 10am and it was a beautiful drive to the park. We unloaded the car then I went to my favorite place at Silver Falls, Church. It is an outdoor chapel area and one of the most beautiful spots in an area that has no shortage of beauty. A group of us hung out and talked, the sun pouring through the tall, mossy trees. Most people went off to get a practice round in but not me. I don’t even play frisbee golf anymore but I was still going to this event. I wouldn’t miss it for the world. Kelly and Amberly had arrived so I went down to their area to hang out with them. Amberly wasn’t sure if she was going to come as she was very close to her due date of June 10th. There is a doctor who goes to the Masters and it’s a short drive to the closest hospital and she is the kind of girl that seems to be up for anything so she decided to come. She was looking fantastic but of course feeling a bit uncomfortable and really wishing her feet weren’t so swollen. We spent the afternoon sitting around the backyard of the infirmary. That’s the name of the cabin we had reserved for her, another pregnant woman named Molly (also due on June 10th and there with her husband) and Alicia and Lincoln with their 6 month old son Chiron). This was the quiet zone for pregnant ladies and little babies. We ate snacks and laid in the sun and enjoyed the beautiful day. Lots more friends began arriving and setting up their tents. The Masters is really just a big, fun party in the woods.
Later in the evening Amberly and I walked down to the grill-out to have some salmon burgers (big thumbs down from me and I love salmon). We lounged on the hill in the lingering light until the bugs drove us nuts. I spent the rest of the night hanging out on our tiny porch cabin with far too many other people. We talked and drank beers and laughed at Dave playing with his $1 fart machine (a mouth piece with a floppy piece of rubber which brought him “far more than $1’s worth of joy”). Later we headed down to the big campfire on the other side of the pond. There was a huge circle of people hanging out and playing music but I was tired and didn’t stay very late.
Saturday morning while making my coffee Molly walked by and told us that Amberly’s water had broken at 1:30 that night and she had left with Kelly, Lincoln, Alicia and baby Chiron. Whoa! What news early in the morning! We had no idea when we would hear from anyone so we just had to wait. I drank my coffee in the sun and we all knew it was going to be a warm day as the clouds were already gone. Dave pulled out his bin of polyester clothing and people began putting on ridiculous outfits. I showered then put on my silky, flouncy black and white shirt with a big floppy scarf attached around the neck, like something a secretary would have worn 20 years ago. For pants I had bright lime green capris with daisies embroidered on them. It was all very ugly for sure. A big group of friends went out to start golfing their first scored round and I walked with them to take photos. It was a beautiful day and some people were getting some crazy shots. It’s always great to see other people dressed up on the course. There were more people this year than ever just golfing in normal clothes. BOOOO! It’s a course requirement that you wear golf gear (argyle and whatnot) or hilarious polyester. You with the khaki shorts and t-shirt….BOOOOO! Around hole 9 or 10 I was starving marvin so I walked with Gina back to our cabin where we made bagel sandwiches. Lincoln had stopped by, exhausted from their crazy night and morning. I grabbed my lunch and walked down to their cabin where they were all starving and tired but eager to share their stories with me. Amberly delivered a healthy baby boy just after 9 am at a midwife’s house in Salem. Both Kelly and Alicia were in the room with her and were pretty blown away by the experience, even Alicia who had given birth herself, at home, just 6 months before. After talking and relaxing a bit Lincoln decided to go for a nap while Alicia threw on some ridiculous clothes, put Chiron in a sling and decided to walk around the course a bit with me. We went up to Church and sat and watched others golf through.
Later I walked down to the pond where I watched my friends belly flop and cannon ball into the cold water. No diving as the water was much too shallow. Even just flopping into the water John hit bottom and kinda hurt his neck. Enough fun in the pond. I sat in the shady grass for a bit, eating snacks, talking with friends and enjoying the beautiful day which is pretty much how I spent the rest of the day, just moving locations throughout the park. We were up in Church when we heard the dinner bell so we headed down for some food. Dinner has always been horrible at the Masters but we had heard that they had it catered for Saturday so there was hope. Indeed they served Ethiopian food and it was delicious and very filling. After dinner Gina, Elaine and I walked over to Emma’s cabin where she lent us tutus (crinolines really) for the costume party. We were wearing all plaid representing Plaidagonia but we were going to have cross bred with Tutuland. Again with the ridiculous clothes! Back at our own cabin we got all dressed up and trounced down to the dancehall where we got free drinks and danced to the blues band. We talked with a bunch of people before deciding to head over to Trickle Falls, the area we used to camp at for Masters before it became overrun with too many people. Amazingly there was no one there, just Dave and Jimmy and Lincoln playing music and a handful of friends sitting around. It was tons of fun and a great ending to the day.
Sunday the girls had to get up early to be ready for a 10 am tee-off with the women’s leader group. I showered and drank my coffee before getting dressed (mixing a red skirt I wear in normal life but it is a crazy pattern with an ugly blue button up with a snakeskin design). Nate and I walked over toward the IJ shrine, picking up Jason along the way. It’s hard to explain what the IJ (Insect Jesus) is but people make offerings to him for good golf. I walked with Nate up to Church for a bit before heading to the cabin. I then hung out in the sunny, grassy field hoping to come across the women’s leader group so I could walk along with Elaine and Gina and take some photos. When I eventually found them I walked to several holes with them. It was so great to see the women’s group so supportive of each other and giving each other hints and tips.
I watched the women’s group finish up their last few holes and post their scores. Elaine placed third and Gina tied with Andrea for 4th. After hanging out a little bit we went back to the cabin to pack up and do some cleaning. Gina had a screw in her tire and while she’d gotten some air she didn’t know how long it was going to hold so we hightailed it out of there and got home in the late afternoon.
So that was my crazy weekend at the Masters. Please let me know how you are and what you’ve been up to.
xoxo,
carolyn
