Saturday, April 26
Last night before I had gone to sleep I began packing. After my best night’s sleep in San Francisco, I got up at 9:00 a.m. and finished packing. I showered, dressed, checked out and dropped my bags off at the Hilton down a few blocks, closer to the BART station. I met one of my colleagues there and she ended up leaving two of the Doug fir starters with the concierge, who was excited to plant them with his little boy in their back yard.
It was already in the seventies and would reach the low-eighties. The sky was a perfect powder blue. Part of me was tempted to stay to enjoy the day. But then as we crossed the street to go to H&M, the crowds of people bumping and brushing past us reminded me how much I was ready to get back to Portland. I don’t like crowds and I don’t like large cities with lots of people. Within thirty or so minutes, I tried on 22 items – a handful that I considered buying. But then I wasn’t really in love with anything I put on. I had never shopped at an H&M before, except for when I picked up my flip flops a couple of days ago, but I didn’t know my size. We didn’t really have time to browse through, try items on and then go grab the right sizes, when needed. No matter. I put the clothes back and headed out to get something to eat. The old me would have rushed around, grabbed the next size up or down, and then would have bought half of those garments. I loved how disciplined I have become.
I crossed the street and went to Herbert’s Mexican Grill. I ordered 3 small soft corn tortilla tacos with carne adobado, black beans and lime-cilantro rice. The food was really good. I hadn’t had a thing to eat yet, so I was starving. And my diet limits me when I’m in a rush, so, all in all, I was pleased.
We dashed off to the BART station on Market, headed toward the Coliseum-Oakland Airport station. From there, we boarded the shuttle to the airport.
It was a nearly empty flight. I had a row to myself. Just as I sat down, I pulled out my book with every intention to work on my edits. But, shortly after the plane took off, I fell asleep. I woke up just as we were approaching Portland. It was gray outside, but the snow-capped peaks of the Cascades stretched along as we passed the Three Sisters and Mt. Bachelor, Mt. Jefferson and then my dear Mt. Hood! I smiled. I was home. Seeing Mt. Hood, I really didn’t need a reminder on how much I love Portland and Oregon, or how connected I have become with this magnificent place. Even in a fun, energetic place like San Francisco, I had missed my beloved green state.
No, it wasn’t as clear or sunny today in Portland, but the white-peaked mountain range, majestic, made for a much more beautiful picture. Yes, indeed I was home.
After leaving the airport I met two of my San Francisco trip colleagues at Claudia’s on Hawthorne to catch the end of the Redwings game – and they won. We watched the first half of the Philly-Montreal game. I used to be a big Flyers fan when Eric Lindros played. I had a major crush on him. I became a fan when I lusted over him during the 1992 winter Olympics. Lindros retired this year. And he’s still single. Big E, if you happen to Google yourself like most celebrity actors/athletes do (hell, celebrity or not, who doesn’t Google themselves??) and you happen to read this blog, go directly to my website (see the About Me tab) and proceed to the Contact page. Yup. Email me. Seriously.
Okay, so we ate nachos and I consumed one lovely margarita before leaving Claudia’s at half time. The Flyers were up.
I got home and was so happy to see my kitties! Sadly, no sign of Shadow. This was really beginning to worry me. I missed my little stray friend. I put on my pajamas and watched Harry Potter & The Goblet of Fire on television. I was tired and I didn’t feel like channel surfing or doing much of anything else. It was great to have a chill night with my girls, India and Capri. They wouldn’t stop purring next to me, which was totally relaxing in a very Zen way.
