Okay, well here is my story today. I told Ryan this really is his story so I feel narcissistic telling it from my perspective. But I’m kind of a boring housewife, so my entire life is my perspective on the interesting things that happen to him anyway. 😅 And I guess it took this to resurrect my blog after a 10 year hiatus?
So here we are in the Suggle Up (you too can rent the Snuggle Up) at Depoe Bay for a quick winter getaway before we hit the new year hard.
We awoke to an unexpectedly gorgeous January day on the Oregon Coast, and decided we should take advantage of it and go for a walk.
Before all that you should maybe know that I thought I had forgotten my curling iron and I was so very close to going out with my hair in its natural bendy-straw state. Why is this noteworthy? Big deal, right? Well, I’m not a natural kinda girl. I can count on one hand and maybe 2 fingers the times I’ve gone out without the benefit of hair help. God didn’t give me beautiful hair. In fact, He barely gave me any so I do what I can.
But… it was such a beautiful morning, and I thought the clouds and rain could return at any moment, so I decided to “hang it”and go for a walk anyway. But I dug one more time in my bag—further—deep down into the dark crevices and voila! There was the curling iron, Praise Be! I could keep up my fakery another day!
So, now I donned my cheapo Costco boots with the stupid zippers that get stuck every single time I wear them, put on my coat, and we were ready!
“Which way should we go?” Ryan asked. I gave my opinion and we headed south across the bridge and turned right onto a street I’d never noticed. You can turn RIGHT heading south in Depoe Bay?? Isn’t that the Pacific?? Who knew? I’m only a native Oregonian visiting this town for the hundredth time.
I was in awe at this neighborhood that was completely new to me. Beautiful views! The houses were your typical beach houses, and the further we went there were some really gorgeous ones.
Ryan is ever the confident, curious “let’s go for it” one. And I’m all: let’s run away and mind our own business one. Don’t bother people. Don’t trespass. I’m the fun ender.
Which is where we were in our conversation when he spotted it. “I can’t believe this house! These are my people! I’m going to look up tax records to see who owns it.”
I’m like.”You’re going to look it up here? Now?”
But it was too late. He’d seen the stained glass.
They had put in stained glass windows at their entryway with Air Force stuff, Command Pilot wings, Jump wings, Air Force wings (new and old style), and…an F-16. This completely sealed it. He was researching who owned the house. “These are my people!” he tells me. There is no not researching it now.
When he found out who the owner was he was completely gob-smacked. These were literally his people!
It’s so weird living in Oregon after being part of a fighter wing on the East Coast. Nobody from that life is from Oregon hardly. It’s weirder being out for 20 some years. It’s a past life. You separate yourself from the memories just by living.
And the chances of seeing a house with all that is very rare in Oregon anyway. But to look up tax records (creepy, right?) and find that it’s one of the 4 or 5 fighter pilots whose back seat you actually flew in almost 30 years ago and were their intelligence officer? Unbelievable!!
There was no way Ryan was going to pass by without knocking on their door. And as his wife, there was no way out for me—although I tried to hang out at the end of the driveway. And you better believe I’m like “thank you God for my curling iron”!
So… the door opens and the guy has a Top Gun haircut. And he’s wrestling a dog. And Ryan calls him by the callsign he knew him as and says: “Ski?” And it was over. We were in the door. Meeting the dog, his wife, his son. The next 30 to 45 minutes were surreal.
What a fun, unexpected reunion 27 years later! His wife was so gracious and happy we stopped by. She said they had moved from Vegas and that he wistfully says he doesn’t know anyone here.
I can’t help thinking on God’s sovereignty. The sun came out on a day that called for rain. How we have never in our lives explored that area of Depoe Bay before. I didn't even know it existed! We kept going when we were thinking of turning back several times. I noticed a pretty house. Ryan took a few steps toward it where it put him in view of the neighboring house and its stained glass Air Force signage.
We both marvel at these non-Oregonians settling on our rainy coast. And that God literally directed our path to them today. Who knows why? I know my husband was totally blessed. Maybe that’s it. God is good like that. Maybe it’s to encourage them? I hope we did. Maybe there will be a reignited friendship? They are certainly connected again. But all that to say, life is so interesting. God is so good and gives good gifts. And He’s definitely, definitely sovereign.
