Deming, WA

Perhaps I'm turning into one of those old farts that daydreams in nostalgia because I worry if the internet is making our thoughts less enchanting. I remember being rapt in mystery for hours by the lone home on a field in the middle of nowhere. How do they survive? Are they retired? Are they farmers? What do they do?? Now, less so. They probably work from home, commute into town for groceries, and post gorgeous pictures of pies. Wait, no, galettes. They post pictures of galettes. 

People who lived "out in the county" in Bellingham weren't that much different from those of us nearer civilization. My whole perception changed however when I attended Deming's Annual Log Show. Git-r-dun and circle skirts?? Where did these folks come from?! No doubt they were thinking the same when they saw me walk by, Now she don't look like she's from here.... No sir, but I will gladly howdy and curtsy for some more of your fresh from the river salmon barbeque. 

Besides the lure of salmon, I also came out of curiosity. In 2010, Deming's population was 353. I knew I hadn't met every person who lived in Deming, and I knew those who attended the log show didn't all live in Deming, but a good portion of those 353 people probably did and had for a long time. I went to answer those romantic questions of mine, and to delete some of my cynicism -- you can't Google everything.

In 1963, a logger was seriously injured on the job. With government assistance being what is (even then), Finely Hays came up with the idea of having a logging show celebrating what loggers do on a daily basis with the proceeds benefiting the injured logger and his family. The Deming Logging Show has continued since then for the same noble purpose regardless of the logging industry's decline. I learned of all this history from the show's website because I was too shy to talk to anyone that day. And, I feel like a feel now. A small part of me does want to live in Deming. A far off town (or place if you work for the Census Bureau) with people like Finely Hays.

Length of Stay

One day

Docking Index

     

Six anchors, my monthly misanthrope would love it here. She could bake galettes all day then gorge on them all night -- bliss! She'll need to marry a lumberjack though to cut down some trees for daylight. Most homes in Deming are surrounded by tall, tall pines.