For the past week, I’ve been away from the smoke and the breaking news, doing things like eating fresh-picked blackberries, dancing in the rain, skimming across the river, flying off the swells, tasting wine, eating well, getting some stuff done, enjoying the company of friends and spending quality time with the one I love, my husband of 26 years. Here, a rare sight over in the Columbia River Gorge: A downwind race of 40-foot sailboats, at the same time as numerous windsurfers like us out enjoying the river, at the same time a big barge passed through, all set against the backdrop of dramatic clouds and later, thunderstorms. It was a fun week of vacation. I’m physically tired and tanned from seven straight days of windsurfing, but mentally rested, recharged and ready to go. Now, back to work…