Charles and I were in Portland for a week (10/10 - 10/16). Charles was attending the Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions' national meeting. While he was engaged in matters liturgical, I spent my time relaxing, shopping, and getting to know my home town. Since the meeting was held at the Doubletree Hotel close to Lloyd Center, we stayed there, although it was very strange to stay in a hotel in my home town!
My brother Phil picked us up and took us out to breakfast one morning. We went to his favorite diner - check out the great color scheme!
After breakfast, Charles went to his meetings and Phil and I sat in Holladay Park and visited and watched unsuspecting pedestrians get sprayed by the fountain.
At Evening Prayer at the conference, the organizers had built a giant puppet of Pope John XXIII, in honor of the 49th anniversary of the opening session of the Second Vatican Council. The puppeteers processed slowly up the aisle, with the hand blessing the assembly. It was very moving and beautiful!
"Let my prayer rise up like incense, let the lifting up of my hands be an evening sacrifice..."
We went out to dinner with the representatives of Region XII (Oregon, Washington, Idaho. Montana and of course, Alaska). We went to the Portland Grill. When they told us we were going to be eating at the Portland Grill, we were thinking burgers and fries. I knew it was going to be a bit more upscale when we got out of the elevator on the 30th floor. We ended up spending a LOT more than we had planned but, it was a lovely meal and there was a beautiful view of Portland.
We finished off the week at my brother Marc and sister in law Kerry's house - a beautiful home in the Irvington District in NE Portland. They hosted a family dinner - my sister Rita and her husband Walt came down from Seattle, along with my brother Vince's wife Mary Ann and her daughter KC. Vince died in 2001, so we treasure the times we remaining siblings can get together. My sister Mary and her husband Richard were there, along with Marc's son Mitch, an amazing musician, who treated us to a little home concert! You can find his music at http://www.myspace.com/mitchellsumner.
Marc and Kerry's beautiful dining room - made even more wonderful by the great conversation!
Charles, Mitch and KC enjoying the witty repartee...
My two big brothers, Marc and Phil.
Charles and I admired the wildlife in downtown Portland...
...and saw two separate demonstrations in Pioneer Square. The first was against the Chinese by the Vietnamese community...
...and the second was by Occupy Portland.
This gentleman was oblivious.
We saw some beautiful foliage!
And for all of you Beverly Cleary fans, here is the street that Ramona Quimby lived on: Klickitat Street!
It was a great trip, and I can't wait to go back!
Love Portland....hmmm
ReplyDeleteso glad you had a great time!
I don't remember knowing that Portland is your home town. I was born and raised there and all of the family is still there. My grandmothers home was right on Multnomah and I went to Lloyd Center all of the time! I graduated from Washington High School in '71 not far from there (not there anymore). I haven't been to downtown in many years. - So nice for you to be able to get together with your family. What a beautiful service and I was amazed that the life like, huge puppet, wow! xo
ReplyDeletePaula
ReplyDeleteIt looks like you've had such a wonderful week with your family. It's so neat that Charles meetings happened to be where you once lived and still have so much family near.
And the services must have been very moving. Those were some amazing artist that did that puppet!I've never seen anything like it before.
I will be heading down hopefully this weekend to the states and would like to mail out those mittens to you. What color choice would you like? I'll get it out to asa I hear back from you! Take care-Kimberly
Yes I recognize that street name!! Love Ramona! I read all those books when I was young. And then read some of them aloud as bed time stories for my two children.
ReplyDeleteLooks like you had a wonderful time in Portland with family!!