Having just moved from Minnesota in February 1980, I lived with my parents in Battle Ground.
When Mount St. Helens blew, the ash was all over our Battle Ground yard and cars. My mom wanted to document the ash on my 1978 VW Rabbit. She wrote “ASH” on my car and took a picture. Because the ash was so fine – that ASH was a permanent reminder on the hood of my car.
I worked downtown Portland at PNB at the time. Right near the Benson. As a courtesy the Benson employees would hose down the ash layered sidewalks — including my car and many others parked along the sidewalk! COOL!
My birthday is May 20 — I remember enjoying the sunshine that year, just laying back in the lounge chair. Amazed that two days before created such dark chaos around the state.
