Umpqua River
Lighthouse
Winchester Bay,
Oregon
Present Day
Dawn was almost upon the edge of
the continent and the twilight of half colors and half monochrome rose with
ever increasing intensity with each passing moment. In this quiet time before
the light of day spread across the beach, a slow rhythmic dance of light played
out high on the bluff overlooking the Umpqua River bar.
Looking to the west, the bar where
the Umpqua River blended with the Pacific Ocean was mostly obscured by fog in
the dim pre-dawn light. The beach stretched as far as the eye could see on a
clear day, but this morning, faded into the haze to disappear into obscurity
waiting for the sun to pierce the morning and lift the veil. Across the bar the
tide moved seaward carrying with it the brown runoff stain from the Umpqua
River that extended at least a half mile into the Pacific. Where the ocean met
the gap between the twin black rock jetties, a series of breakers slow rolled
to a foaming boil and crashed in perfect slow-motion timing with the Pacific
swells.
A 1997 vintage green Jeep with
two people inside rolled to a stop near the stone retainer wall and hesitated with
the engine continuing to run, with the headlights cutting two beams into the
half light of the morning mist.
“It’s okay if we don’t do this
today, you know that, right.” The older lady passenger said softly as she
placed her hand on her husband’s forearm. He smiled with a token measure of
reassurance.
“I know, but its time, it’s time
to let it go.”
Together they opened their
respective doors and stepped into the cool October air.
The
older lady pulled her loose collar a bit higher and tighter around her neck to
ward off the cold. They stood arm and arm in front of the retaining wall. A light
breeze rose upwards from the shelf of sand dunes far below them causing her
gray streaked, blonde hair to flair outwards.
“It’s been a long time hasn’t
it,” she said.
“Too long, but somehow it seems
like…well, you’re right. It has been a long time. It’s different now somehow,
almost the same but time has changed how it all looks.”
She nodded and leaned her head
onto his shoulder pulling his arm in close. Behind them another vehicle rolled
to the top of the hill and pulled in beside them. A short heavyset man, clad in
a light dark-blue jacket and a matching baseball cap quickly hopped out to join
them.
“Mrs. Jacobs, Matthew. I am Ron Gallagher
with the Chronicle. So glad to meet you finally. Sorry I’m late, not use to
these early starts, must have that old cup of coffee you know, to get jump
started.”
Matthew who stood a good seven
inches taller than Ron turned to shake his hand. His mostly gray but still full
head of what used to be brown hair flared in the wind as the two exchanged
pleasantries.
“Call me Matt, thanks for
coming. My wife Sharon.”
Ron shook both of their hands
and then quickly placed his hands back into his jacket pockets. “Your e-mail
really intrigued me. You know I do believe you have a compelling story to
tell.”
Matt shifted his grin rather
sheepishly and politely nodded holding back comment. In his thoughts reluctance
stubbornly clung to him. Sharon cast a questioning gaze toward Matt before
speaking. “Well, it has been difficult to get to this point, but I hope we can
move forward.”
Matt walked with a decided limp,
from an old back injury, across the parking area toward the base of the Umpqua
River Lighthouse. High above still shrouded in mist, its beams of light cut a
rotating path through the haze. A deep
sigh filled his chest, then another as visions from his past infiltrated his
thoughts. He closed his eyes and stumbled catching himself with a clumsy lurch.
Sharon caught him, helped by Ron who said. “Whoa now. You okay man?”
Matt straightened his shoulders,
took a deep breath, and held it for a few moments before letting it out. He
stood silent for a full thirty seconds before speaking softly. “I’m Okay, just
some old difficult memories bouncing around inside.”
Sharon placed both of her hands
across his face and stared directly into his eyes. “Are you sure you want to do
this?”
He nodded, “I’m sure. It’s time
to let it go.”
He
stepped away from Sharon, slowly turned and walked toward the retainer wall
where he gazed expectantly westward. She and Ron stood several yards behind him
not sure if they should follow or allow him to find his own place.
Just visible through the haze about a mile
off shore he sighted the outline of a trawler making its way toward the bar. The
pacific was already rough stirred by a stiff wind and the distinctive outline
of the trawler with its sharply pitched bow bit into the swells to throw white
foam across the deck.
His thoughts were lost across
time and his memory of faded events became sharp and clear. He blinked as the
cool air current flowed from the beach up the slope into his eyes causing them
to tear up. He shivered as the chill filled his chest. Those days from long ago
became real again and in his heart and through his soul he began to relive the
defining moment of his life.
Chapters 1 and 2 coming soon
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