--- Over the Transom ---
Enter Summer
By Sandy Raschke
which had some of their leaves torn off, are again in bloom.
The town of Madras had its fifteen minutes of fame as
the movie, “Management,” finally debuted last week in “theatres
everywhere.” It even got a three-star review from Ebert. I
probably won’t see the film anytime soon, as the nearest theatre
is 45 miles away, but I was reminded of another movie, partially
filmed in Oregon a few years back, in the small town of
Silverton—“Bandits,” with Bruce Willis, Billy Bob Thornton, and
Cate Blanchett. “Flat-out funny,” said USA Today.
I couldn’t agree more.
Before the weather turned bad, we
took a long ride—about 150 miles—to check out the river town of
John Day. It sits midway between Central and Eastern Oregon.
The snow melt had turned the usual shallow meandering river into
a cascade of rushing white-water. We traveled through a myriad
of small towns—some no more than a spread out collection of
ranches and farms—along a two-lane highway that followed the
river for miles and miles. It’s a part of Oregon that’s
surprising in its lack of population,
most river towns, and on that day was crowded with cars, trucks,
RVs and travel trailers. It was the beginning of trout season
and the John Day is known for its trophy trout. We picnicked in
a park nearby then headed back to Madras on another route, one
that took us up and over a small mountain range—almost 5,000 ft.
elevation—before connecting with the river again on the other
side. There we discovered the big peach growing region of
Central Oregon, Kimberly, where the orchards line the banks of
the river. Again, the small towns came and went in a blink, and
a few hours later we were home again.
Next trip, Southern Oregon.
This issue has often been called
our “Big Summer Reading Issue.” We’ve included some longer
stories and would appreciate your comments—on the length, the
stories themselves, or what you’d like to see in future issues.
Just drop me or Cynthia a note, or add your comments to The
Forum, found on Calliope’s web site. And don’t forget the
Fiction Contest—all entries are considered for future
publication. You, too, could see your story in the Big Summer
Reading Issue.
I’ve just said goodbye to Spring;
yesterday was the official start of summer. The thunderstorms
that plagued us for weeks have moved east, and our battered
garden is taking shape again, thanks to all that rain—four times
the average for this time of year. The sunflowers shoot
up-wards and the
marigolds,
but stunning in revealing the beauty of the back country:
painted hills of pink and bright white and orange, rimrock that
surrounds vast valleys, the renowned fossil beds, and, of
course, the incredible river that runs through it.
The town of John Day is a bit worn
like