Over three-quarters of a century. That’s how long my wife and I have lived. Now, only a few years before 80, we have experienced many, many of life’s strange twists. But, I believe a circumstance this past August was, perhaps, the strangest of all. But, let me set the stage.
On our summer vacation, we toured Oregon; from the extreme northeast corner, where we tried to visit our property in Imnaha River Woods to a southern beach at Bandon. Unfortunately, our property was completely overgrown beside the Imnaha River. Our daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter accompanied us. We then drove to Vancouver, Wash., and, our family flew home from Portland. (For story see Morgan Hill Times, Sept. 1-4 edition)
Then my wife and I traveled down Interstate 5 to Eugene then over to the coast at Florence then down the Oregon coast to Bandon.
We have vacationed at Bandon five or six times over the last 20 some years. The attraction has always been the view: great rocks jutting up out of the ocean, like “Face” rock, as well as horses and riders on the beach. What a site.
Additional attractions were the cheese factory, cranberry bogs, fish markets, many golf courses, and gathering agates on the beach after high tide.
Unfortunately, this time, we found the cheese factory had closed, as well as the “cranberry bog” gift shop.
The first time we stayed in Bandon, we stayed in a dump next to the beach. Actually, it’s still there. Since then, we have always stayed at “The Windermere.”
But, let me explain. South of downtown Bandon, nature provides a broad beach then a bluff. Here, on the bluff are the summer homes and motels. That’s where we found “The Windermere.”
On a high bluff, overlooking a tremendously wide beach, with views of giant rocks in the ocean and horse riders on the beach, sits “The Windermere.”
There are some six peaked-roofed structures housing four units each; two up, two down, but each with a deck for fantastic viewing. These were built in 1936 and seventy years later are still providing a suite for tourists; that is, with a kitchen, bedroom and patio furniture on the deck to relax while looking out upon the beach.
But, there is more. Above the office is another suite with deck, which we stayed in, the first time.
And, more. Less than ten years ago, a new structure was built. Following protocol, this structure has four units: two up, two down. But, the north units are offset some 10 feet from the south units. So, if you sit on your deck, you don’t see your neighbor. (The old unit decks were side by side.) Additionally, these new units have a fireplace.
After the first “over the office” visit, we always choose the new forward northern upstairs suite of the new addition.
Thus, in one day, we came here from Vancouver. That evening, we raised our umbrella against a intensely hot afternoon sun. On the deck with the white plastic chairs, we set out our hors d’oeuvres on the white plastic table provided. And, we imbibed our celebration Chardonnay. We toasted our good fortune.
Way out on the ocean, we could see clouds forming. Not long after, the clouds became darker and approached the beach. Then we discovered beams of light coming through the clouds. As we watched, mystified, the clouds rolled in and beams of sunlight penetrated the clouds.
While watching, perhaps in a trance, the clouds darkened the whole area, except for the beams that began approaching from miles out in the ocean
Now, let me describe the scene. Gazing across the wide beach, we watched the storm clouds. Next to the beach, foliage begins with beach grass and other beach vegetation, but the path also comes up from the beach to our area. There on our bluff, the path is paved and a hydrant is available for hosing off sand. In this area in front of our two-story deck is a large grassy area. To our right is another fenced property.
Looking out a long distance, we saw the beam of light from the sun across the ocean, moving toward us.
As we sat there, enjoying our Chardonnay, the beams began approaching. The beams lined up and came to the beach. The beams came up the path to the bluff. The beams came to our deck.
Not to any other.
The beam was approximately 50 feet across. As it came to us, dark was on adjacent structures as well as the fence of the adjacent property. It only shined on us.
Should I yell, “Beam me up, Scotty.”
Can you visualize a darkened stage, where suddenly, the star emerges and a spot light suddenly shines on this person. This seemed to happen to us.
Think about this. The beam of light came from the ocean, across the beach, up the bluff, across the green grass and on to our deck.
These many, many beams came across the ocean to our deck, again and again. I began to wonder if this was some kind of revelation.
Is God beaming up!
It was the most inspirational experience I have ever had.
The Chardonnay was good, too.
Burton Anderson, a U.S. Marine veteran of the Korean War, has lived in California for about 50 years. He has a background in aerospace industry. He can be reached at
ba****@ao*.com
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