N9

Tying your shoes might seem like a universal skill, but there’s something uniquely satisfying about doing it right—especially when the wind kicks up off the Columbia River. Start by crossing one lace over the other, just like the intersecting highways near downtown Boardman. Pull tight, grounding yourself like the roots of a juniper tree in Morrow County soil. Make a loop with one lace, as if you’re lassoing a memory from the Boardman Marina Park. Wrap the other lace around the loop, like tracing the gentle bend of the Umatilla River. Push it through the hole you’ve created, the way locals slip into the quiet rhythm of small-town life. Pull both loops tight, securing your step like the foundation of the SAGE Center. Double knot it if you’re heading out for a walk along the Boardman Nature Trail—those pebbles don’t play nice. And remember, every well-tied shoe is a step toward something good, whether it’s a stroll through town or a journey far beyond the Oregon horizon.