in the POD - city fix: Portland

View from the apartment

NE Portland, OR

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Enough seascapes! Enough trees! Enough mountains majesty!!!

I need some city time!

Ahhhhhh - Portlandia........

Quirky, coffee-soaked, rainy, charming and oh so mellow, Portland was a real nice change from the road. We stayed at the apartment of my good friend (and college roommate) Julie. 

It was great to see each other on this coast and have her show us "her" city.

Julie and I downtown

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I can't put into words how wonderful it was to spend time together. So gratifying to still have deep connections, to easily follow the old rhythms and not miss a beat, understanding where we are, how we got there - sometimes with a look, a smile. 

It felt so normal - like in that first dorm room where we met. Two 18 year old girls holding on to each other for support, comfort, friendship - learning to grow up together.

It still feels exactly the same.

Julie and I

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Portland, and all of the Pacific NW, was awash in blooms! Tulips, lilacs, wisteria, dogwood, azaleas, rhodys, even the roses and peonies were popping. I was amazed by how far along spring was. Other than the cloudiness and the drizzle ....... it was actually kind of warm.

We wandered both the NW neighborhood and downtown over the course of our stay deciding where to go and what to  do based on the weather. At one point during some rain we headed into the Portland Museum of Art and saw the "Italian Style: Fashion Since 1945" exhibit. Excellent! 

Got to meet and hang out with Julie's new partner, Ken. He graciously had us over for a wonderful dinner of sautéed halibut and pesto pasta. Yum! Was fortunate also to meet up with Julie's oldest daughter, Kelly Bosworth, for dinner. Wow! Beautiful, poised and oh so talented!

Food trucks - EVERYWHERE

Portland, OR

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And just to make me feel older than I believe I am..... I had the good fortune to meet up with some ex-students of mine. Thank you Kriso for arranging this!!

They are all now closing in on 40 - with families, careers, kids - Ugh - this is harder to take than one's own son turning 29 and getting married. (Kriso and Rachel were once Tyler's babysitters.)

It was amazing to see them, hear about their lives, choices/changes, directions. So many years have passed but they, too, possess their same 20 year old self. 

Kriso - bright and shining, smiling, up beat and always on top of what is going on. 

Rachel - witty, strong, open and dynamic.

We don't really change. I guess we simply refine.

Coffee with ex-students from the College of Santa Fe

Kriso, Rachel, me, and Doug

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Ken cooking us dinner

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Friends. 

Time.

Always there.

Kind of amazing. 

It is.

A little yoga bondage 

Julie Lawrence Yoga Studio, Portland

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City - check!

Craft beer - check!

Fashion Exhibit - check!

I can now go back into the woods.