Wayside Hell

We arrived Camas, Washington, our final destination. The past seven years of our beloved home and endless sweat equity was now to be exchanged for the moment. Our excitement went from an explosion to a weak fizzle.

We had researched this area via the Internet and based this choice upon schools, demographics and housing costs. A friend of Sean’s from the airlines happened to live in the area and spoke well of Camas. We drove through an old town of small buildings and paper mill. We continued through and found new residential areas with many shopping malls and parking lots. The area was all nicely plotted with sidewalks and landscaping. The homes were often clones of themselves with small lots. Some were more grand but still with small lots. It was crowded.

Sean let out a big sigh. More like a sound of a deflating balloon. All the life was out of him. I shared the feeling and looked out the window as we drove around looking for something that would assure us that we had sold our house and everything in it, drove 3,400 miles in exchange for something incredible; nothing called out to us.

“What do you think?” I finally asked.
“I don’t know…”
“I’m not feeling it.” I admitted bluntly.
“Neither am I.”
“What do you want to do?”
No answer.
Anther deflated sigh came from him.

We ate at Burgerville. That put the nail in the coffin. We were out of there and traveled across the Columbia River to Portland for the night. We stayed at a hotel and the kids were elated to be swimming again. We didn’t know where to go from there the next morning. I didn’t even have any suggestions.

Sean got on the phone and called a few of his local friends for some guidance. We got a list of suggestions and mapped them out. The first was Aberdeen, near the coast, Hwy 101, south of the Olympic National Mountains.

A quick stop in Olympia for breakfast at Denny’s Restaurant started us out on the right foot. People there were at a modest pace and friendly. They appeared conscientious of each other and polite. They were talkative and well traveled. A look of good health was about them and I was intrigued of their lifestyles.

We purchased some groceries at Top Foods, a high-end grocery store of local and organic produce, gourmet meats, wines and bookstore. I teased I would move here just for the store. Sean was quite impressed with the place too. There were many trees and the roads meandered through hills with views of the Olympic Mountains, the State Capitol overlooking the southern tip of Puget Sound, and on a clear day, views of Mount Rainer. This was nice but we were on a mission to find a place to live and we had a list of recommended cities and Olympia was not on it.

We headed west on Hwy 101 to Aberdeen, just south of the Olympic National Forest peninsula, a city recommended. A quick drive through, we knew it was a no go. Too much industry. We drove north on Hwy 101 along the coast and camped at rustic campsites with gigantic driftwood along the shores. Impressive and somewhat eerie, the weather was very cool and misty. We wore jackets and winter hats while we hiked.

To Port Angeles, another recommended town and then onward to Port Townsend, we enjoyed the visits but nothing felt like home. A ferry across to Whidbey Island with the van and camper brought us on the eastern side of Puget Sound, north of Seattle. There we saw some of the most impressive coastline of Deception Pass. This area was very intriguing to explore but not perhaps the best place for us to settle.

Onward to La Connor and to Bellingham. Liam had to go to the bathroom so Sean pulled over to a rest stop. I suggested that Liam go to the camper instead of using the public bathroom – it is faster and cleaner. Sean took him into the rest stop instead, wanting to see the local information and maps posted on the boards for travelers.

After a few minutes I could see Sean walking quickly back to us holding Liam’s hand with a serious look on his face. Liam was crying. Sobbing.

The van door opened up and Sean put Liam in the van and said urgently, “We’ve got to get him to a hospital immediately.”
“Why?” I asked.
“He just ate a peanut cookie,” he replied.
“How did that happen?” I was puzzled.
“I gave it to him. It looked like a sugar cookie with a chocolate kiss in the middle.”
“Those always have peanut butter in them. Remember? You gave one of those to Fionn at your aunts Christmas party and he threw it up all over you,” I said impatiently and growing more angry by the second.
“I don’t remember that,” he replied as he drove looking for a hospital.

“Jesus…” I whispered to myself.

Liam’s face was white and a blue ring was becoming visible around his mouth. He was in serious danger.