I will never forget the day Mt. Saint Helens blew her top in 1980. Shooting an ash cloud billowing into the sky twelve miles high. It looked like an atomic bomb had gone off, creating a huge mushroom cloud agains the blue sky, which turned the day to night for two days afterward, with a layer of dust coating all the cars, sidewalks and streets. I remember we all had to wear painter masks, and none could be found. The stores were not prepared for the fall out.

I was living in Vancouver in my first apartment, and working at Jantzen Beach Mall. From one end of the Frederik and Nelson department store, you could see the perfect snow-cone shape framed by the huge windows near the woman's clothing department.

Several years ago when I was stronger and slimmer, I hiked to the top of Mt. St. Helens with a group of friends. The journey took two days with a sleep over at Chocolate falls. With the goal of summating by noon the next day. One of the most challenging experiences I have ever experienced and remember with pride. We glissaded half way down and checked that one right off the bucket list.

Today, about fifteen years later, I returned with my husband Wade to see if the mountain was still there. And in spite of living here most of my adult life, I had never gone to the Mt. St. Helens visitor's centers, or observatory. The experience was breath-taking! Well done exhibits and another great memory in the books.