It has been a wonderful trip from the state of "Mary" or Maryland as most know it, to Portland and back. We were blessed to spend 4 weeks with Clara, Margaret and Mary Halvorson in their lovely home up there on Mount Tabor. After one of the longest plane rides I have ever taken we were greeted by smiling faces, liquid sunshine and mild temperatures. They sure know how to set the stage for a great visit with pizza in the oven for the kids and pair of cold Black Butte Porters for Jean and I. Life just can't seem to get better that that sometimes. Over the coming days we were inundated with social activities of all kinds. Christmas was fast approaching. The kids counting down the days 4,3,2,Christmas eve!
We traveled to friends houses, they traveled to see us. Clara's house was a beehive of activity that lasted for days on end. That first week we went to bed at nearly 3pm EST every night.
Margaret plied us with delicious dinners. Mary kept finding sweet treats to put out on the counter. We all ate way too much and had a grand time doing it. Christmas Eve was a big deal. The other Halvorsons gathered along with my sister Tracy and Nephew Gabe, our friends the Kaminskis/Lahodneys, the Hales - Dina and Rob, sister Joyce, and I am sure more were there.
The following morning arrived early. The kids had done their obligatory stocking raids and were comparing gifts when I arrived for coffee. It was a slow relaxing day. The kind you want to never end. The weather was blustery so staying inside suited us best. Bring on the baked ham and mashed potatoes!
Our time between Christmas and New Years was quickly spent on visits by friends and visiting friends ourselves. We had a great time having a beer with Becky and Mike Tetherow at a little pub down off Belmont. Clara, Mary, Margaret, Jean and I went to a really chic place called Bar Avignon on Division st. Very trendy, a much younger crowd. It felt like I was in a bistro in Paris. Portland is in many ways being fashioned after Paris by the 30 somethings that have spent time there and since moved to Portland. The look and feel of the city has changed a great deal since I first laid eyes on it. Mostly gone are the Pink mowhawk headed grungies of Hawthorn. They have morphed into the more affluent METRO personalities that abound on every street corner and coffee house.
Portland has so far succeeded in keeping itself weird. Let's hope the new weird begins to take better care of the city that has adopted so many of us outsiders.
But Stumptown politics aside,how can you complain about a place where people smile more when it rains, hold doors for you when your hands are full, and are so optimistic about their futures. Portland is a hard place to beat!
I will close here and come back to more exciting news about our trip on the next installment.
Fair Winds
Scott
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