Majestic & Unimpressed with Us: An Essay by Jason Arias
December 20, 2020
In late March 2020, Julie and I move to the Oregon coast to flee a city that has outgrown us.
In April I see a herd of elk in the dunes for the first time. I’m in complete awe. These elk roam and live within Gearhart and Warrenton city boundaries. Neighbors remind us not to get too close, not to let our dog get too close, to appreciate the elk from afar. All this seems reasonable. Sometimes that means waiting. It reminds us to slow down.
The night of July 4th, Julie and I watch the fireworks over Del Rey Beach. We can’t see the beach or ocean from our house, but we can see the sky above it. This is our first 4th of July being isolated and insulated enough to see the fireworks but not hear them. For the first time our Cockapoo doesn’t shiver and hide in our laps. I think about how war vets can react badly to backfiring cars and loud bangs. I wonder if the elk are down on the dunes watching the sk