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I'm in Portland, Oregon, where I lived for ten years before taking the job in Arizona in August 1989. I'm just visiting, staying with my son and his partner in northeast Portland. But I don't want to leave; I feel like I've come back home. I've missed it so much, baking in the desert without wet or green.
It isn't the first time I've visited since leaving, but this time I drove. That means I can drive around (and get lost) on my own. Last Sunday we went wine tasting (and buying) in the Willamette Valley. We opened a Thistle 2004 pinot noir that night for dinner. Wow! It was even better than it tasted when we sampled it. Amazingly good. I had to have more, so the next day I drove back to Carlton's Tasting Room and ate at the Horse Radish. More surprises. I imagined myself living in Carlton, such a tiny town with so much good taste. The valley is rolling hills with woods and cleared land, farms, and wineries all over the place. It's pleasant, soothing to the eyes and soul, to drive and gaze and daydream.
Then of course there's Powell's City of Books. I had to buy Mysterious Skin after seeing the film, and even with my car's GPS system I desperately needed maps. It's good to go there with a list because browsing can kill a full day. Even so, several additional books manage to attach themselves to me before I can leave.
Yesterday I drove to Tillamook to revisit my favorite beach, Cape Meares. I must have walked there at least a hundred times. There's a long sand spit across the mouth of Tillamook Bay, and it's never crowded. The sea, sand, birds, and sky comb the tangles out of my mind and nourish me in a way the desert never has and never will.
Before reaching the beach, I stopped at a little cafe to pee, pretending I wanted coffee. It was closing in five minutes, so I got coffee to go and used the toilet and left Mysterious Skin behind. I didn't realize that until too late, so of course I had to revisit Powell's. Gee, too bad.
How am I going to live both here and in Europe? I guess I'll be a perpetual nomad.
Of course, my visit began with five days of unbelievable weather, full sun and temperature in the low 80's. Now today it's gray and I remember why after ten years I was ready to leave. That's okay. Ten years is about what I have left of good health and activity.
It isn't the first time I've visited since leaving, but this time I drove. That means I can drive around (and get lost) on my own. Last Sunday we went wine tasting (and buying) in the Willamette Valley. We opened a Thistle 2004 pinot noir that night for dinner. Wow! It was even better than it tasted when we sampled it. Amazingly good. I had to have more, so the next day I drove back to Carlton's Tasting Room and ate at the Horse Radish. More surprises. I imagined myself living in Carlton, such a tiny town with so much good taste. The valley is rolling hills with woods and cleared land, farms, and wineries all over the place. It's pleasant, soothing to the eyes and soul, to drive and gaze and daydream.
Then of course there's Powell's City of Books. I had to buy Mysterious Skin after seeing the film, and even with my car's GPS system I desperately needed maps. It's good to go there with a list because browsing can kill a full day. Even so, several additional books manage to attach themselves to me before I can leave.
Yesterday I drove to Tillamook to revisit my favorite beach, Cape Meares. I must have walked there at least a hundred times. There's a long sand spit across the mouth of Tillamook Bay, and it's never crowded. The sea, sand, birds, and sky comb the tangles out of my mind and nourish me in a way the desert never has and never will.
Before reaching the beach, I stopped at a little cafe to pee, pretending I wanted coffee. It was closing in five minutes, so I got coffee to go and used the toilet and left Mysterious Skin behind. I didn't realize that until too late, so of course I had to revisit Powell's. Gee, too bad.
How am I going to live both here and in Europe? I guess I'll be a perpetual nomad.
Of course, my visit began with five days of unbelievable weather, full sun and temperature in the low 80's. Now today it's gray and I remember why after ten years I was ready to leave. That's okay. Ten years is about what I have left of good health and activity.
posted by Cranky Ol' Lady at 12:08 PM
2 Comments:
Hi. I found your blog by accident when I asked Jeeves about information on MBT shoes. Seems that you bought some a good while back. I was wondering how they worked for you and if you are still wearing this brand? Or are they just an over-hyped fad? Just wondering. Also enjoyed reading your blog. I hope you enjoy your retirement.
Yes, indeed, I now have three pair of MBT's and I love them. Since I live where there's no winter, I wear mostly the sandals and the athletic shoe, but I also have a pair of black oxfords for work when it's cool enough to wear socks. (I'm one of the rare gals who refuse to wear panty hose!) I'm about to buy a pair of MBT hiking boots.
My cousin and her daughter are hooked on them too (after hearing me rave), got the boots and love them. Now that I'm retired and actually have time to get in shape and hike again, I'm ready for the boots also.
I have very high arches, and I'm also overweight. These shoes feel really good to me. They probably won't suit everyone. They come with advice to start slowly, wearing them a short time only at first, gradually increasing it as you get used to them. For me it was instant compatibility. I never got sore. I watched the video that comes with, and at first I worked to walk like they said, rolling onto the toes for a springy stride. Now I don't even think about it. My foot and calf muscles are stronger with all the action they get. They also helped me to stand for hours at a time teaching, because of the arch support. Now that I no longer stand all day, I'm back to slip-on Birkenstocks for casual wear, but whenever I expect to do a bit of walking or standing, I always wear the MBT's.
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