An Unexpected Oregon Adventure

We Do Sunday Series: Enjoying Life after Trauma

Knowing how much baggage we carried into our marriage, we understand that we truly did do our best to enjoy life after trauma. Thank you for walking down memory lane with us during this Sunday series.

Last week I ended with the following quote and our stop at the Tillamook Creamery was certainly a destination we did not expect!

“All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware.”
—Martin Buber—

After years of stopping at roadside outlets for various products, we had low expectations beyond it being a store. The new creamery was built in 2018 and offers an observation deck to watch the cheese being processed. (Read about the history.)

Scott was a bit bemused by my fascination with the assembly line. I am sure it goes back to my summer job during college—working in a factory packaging Adolph’s meat marinade. It was one of my all-time favorite jobs but other than the woman who befriended me—she had worked there thirteen years—and the never-ending supply of ice cream in the break room, I was never sure why.

Remarkably, the box and packets still look the same!

Now I understand that the bilateral eye movement and repetitive movements involved in the work were likely a source of healing for my traumatized brain and body. Later in life, I longed to return to a job where I could clock out and not take my work home.

But back to the creamery. I tasted cheese curds for the first time—yes, really. I would need to develop a taste for them—breaded and fried yes, plain, not so much. But I honor those who would agree with the following quotes: (Source)

1. Cheese Curds: The solution to all life’s problems.

2. Stop trying to make everyone happy. You’re not cheese curds.

3. A cheese curd saved my life once.

4. I love cheese curds. True story.

5. Cheese Curds are Life.

Our tour and shopping completed, we waved goodbye to the cow and were on our way to the next adventure.

To Be Continued Next Week