It seemed my traveling to meet up with my wife on a traveling workweek has lead me to the Great Northwest. To a town called Salem. I wandered the streets in downtown in the early morning to take in the local businesses. It’s interesting how we always find little shops that we wish we had in our own town but I guess that is what makes these small entrepreneurs special. There’s the tiny New York Style pizzeria called Straight From New York, selling pizza by the slice with some amazing yeast raised pull a part Parmesan bread. Or the independent Great Harvest bread company, who’s smell of fresh bread baking in the early hours permeated through the streets. And then I found myself wandering into a quant little bar called Magoo’s, established in 1971. Only old times like me would appreciate a bar named after a cartoon but the bartender was friendly and made a wonderful Long Island ice tea. And there is Rudy’s steakhouse. It’s nice to see a five star steakhouse with its own butcher-shoppe. We found the food to be wonderful but even better was our server, Mia, who was exemplary and one of the reason Restraunts like Rudy’s have such good reviews. And then there’s Taproot. A place short staffed like many Restraunts across America. But talking to the bartenders, the servers, and the friendly staff, what I found were friendly essential workers just trying to do their best job. Though some people may be impatient, they have to realize what these workers go through in any given shift. Talk to them and be patient and tip them well. They deserve to know that they are doing a wonderful job. I walked along commercial street for what seemed hours exploring even through the drizzling rain. It was chilly but i didn’t mind. Back home we have broken hundred year records for no rain in the first three months of 2022. After a pandemic, a national riot, and now a super drought I have to say the terrible luck of 2020 has been going on for far too long. What brings us to these places we pass by on a freeway and never think to stop by for a few days are an inner need to explore and take in the culture of the people and the places they call home. And for a brief moment, a vagabond can call home as well.

Thomas and Donna Pico

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