Portland, Oregon, has a mystique — countercultural, liberal, rain, Trail Blazers, Powell’s City of Books, the arts, Mt. Hood, rain, Willamette Valley, lovely gardens, distinctive districts — on and on. Since 2003 the unofficial motto has been “Keep Portland Weird”. I made my first trip to Portland in late March. Wonderful could be a part of the motto.
Having a daughter, granddaughter and great granddaughter living in Portland is an added attraction! Really no other reason to go there. But once landed, I caught the mystique. I was escorted to a number of lovely spots and ate at some great places.
My family is a recent arrival to Portland from Northern California. First came the granddaughter and her husband a couple years ago. My daughter followed about a year later. At the around the same time the newly married couple went through a very difficult pregnancy condition known as pre-eclampsia, characterized by high blood pressure. It can lead to serious complications for the mother and child. It can be fatal for both. A little girl was born 6 weeks early and with excellent hospital care both made it through. Mother’s words: “We are insanely lucky.” My daughter, while working full time as a hospice nurse, was able to assist in many ways through that challenging time.
So my trip to Portland was to see the new addition to the family — my first great granddaughter. And what a treat it was! She was 10 months old. We warmed up to each other and had lots of fun. After a precarious beginning she is blossoming and has developed a unique personality.
A highlight of the visit was an hour and a half mother and infant group session. An early childhood educator holds classes in a sunlit storefront space. With a soft floor cover and simple toys or objects placed randomly, the mothers sit around the edge of the play area supported by meditation seats. Their little ones, aged somewhere in the first year, are ready to act like babies. The facilitator poses questions for the mothers. Even great grandpa was brought into the discussion. During my time there the babies went through all the emotions that a human can experience. I was a bit embarrassed that our baby was crying to begin with. Well, she got over that and played, smiled, and did nothing. The babies seemed to take turns sharing their emotions. And the mothers shared their emotions about their new role.
At one point during the session I was struck with the reality of six young mothers so intent on doing their very best at the task at hand, who make this weekly commitment to learn and share. They are getting young lives started. There I was at 79, realizing how much time I spend on winding down my life, learning and sharing with others ideas on how to live out our days in the very best way possible. Just being on the floor with these little ones brought tears and a sense of gratitude for the coming and going of life.
Portland was having some weather during my visit. There was in rain, hail, sleet and snow with occasional glimpses of the sun. The winter had been long and unusual for the area. Even so, we made the most of it. A really special part of my visit was having my grandson come down from Seattle for a couple of days. He graduated from the University of Washington last year and is working in Seattle, playing bassoon in a civic orchestra, and keeping fit, practicing Bouldering, free form climbing on small rock formations or artificial rock walls without the use of ropes or harnesses.
An unusual side trip was to the Tillamook Creamy and Cheese Factory in Tillamook, Oregon, near the Pacific Ocean. The ride to the coast took us through and over a coastal mountain range where we encountered blizzard-like snow conditions. It was April! The snow accumulation and moss covered trees made for a winter wonderland. Thanks to my grandson’s steady driving we made it to the coastal plain and dairy farms.
The Cheese Factory produces 170,000 pounds of cheese each day and packages approximately one million pounds of cheese each week. A large crowd was lined up to view the huge cheese making operation from an airy second floor viewing room. Others were jockeying for cheesy gifts or waiting in line for a tasty lunch. After lunch we waited in another long line for ice cream. Their is no fee to enter this amazing operation. Starting 110 years ago this is one of Oregon’s top destinations.
After returning to Portland we visited one of several outstanding gardens in the city. My daughter and I went to Lan Su Chinese Garden. This garden is a collaborative project between the cities of Portland and, Sister City, Suzhou, China. Artisans from Suzhou built the garden. Amazing small pebble in concrete walkways, traditional buildings, quaint tea shop, and small lakes make this an other worldly experience.
I am not a Marvel mania person but I got the fever on a trip to the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. OMSI was hosting Marvel: Universe of Super Heroes. Exhibited on 2 floors of the museum, Marvel history going back to comic books in 1939 is featured. The scope of the show was overwhelming as I thought about the work of creating, packaging, and transporting this marvelous history. My only Marvel experience centered on Flash, Green Lantern, Batman, Superman, Wonder Women, and Green Arm in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
I watched my first Marvel movie, Iron Man with Robert Downey Jr., that evening with my daughter. The photo below shows that I have taken a liking to things Marvel.
Even yarn shops were special. We visited several of my granddaughter’s favorite shops. Once again I was ushered into another world — an art, a craft of beauty, care and focus. Impressive mind and hand work.
I am very grateful for the time in Portland with the highlight of spending time with my first great granddaughter. Of course, as I wrote last week of the trip to Flagstaff, distance is a real issue in relating to a geographically dispersed family. “Last time” thoughts come. Due to age , distance and, simply, the uncertainties in life, it is good to be grateful for what has been given. I remind myself to go with it. Keep on caring and reaching out.
O yes, I have another child. I hope I can visit her in Cedar Rapids, Iowa this year. Next week I will return to Tales from An Average and Ordinary Life.