I had a perfect birthday. Turning 66 was lovely. I always like double digit years. I remember 11, 22, 33, 44, and 55 so now I can add 66.
First it is summer in Portland - a whole different animal from the rest of the year. The rain disappears to be replaced by lovely blue skies, fluffy clouds and - get ready - sunshine. Today was in the high 70s, low 80s, just about perfect. Stephanie, Dan and the boys joined me in a round-trip, 2-hour river cruise from downtown Portland south to just a bit above where I now live. I have driven alongside the Willamette River - well parts of it - but now I got to see it from mid-stream. It was glorious to sip champagne (it was a Sunday champagne brunch tour) while watching the shoreline slip by. We sailed under 4 bridges and around small and large islands.
There were surprises. Things always look different when looking back at the shore. I found myself trying to figure out what all the riverside buildings were - their riversides looked so different from their street fronts. I also discovered several small neighborhoods of floating houses. I had no idea they existed because you can't see them from the shore. What fun it might be to live in a floating house. I'm sure there can be challenges but on this particular gorgeous day it seemed the perfect place to live.
The OFH (Old Folks Home, my irreverent name for the retirement community where I now joyously live) is right on the Willamette River, well we are at the top of a bluff overlooking the river. I can see across to lovely estates along the opposite shore. By the way, what a feast of fire works displays these riverside owners set off on the Fourth of July. I watched from an apartment on the 6th floor and was amazed as their fireworks exploded in front of me. When I looked north I could see, way in the distance, the fireworks from Portland and Vancouver and when I looked south, I could see ones set off by folks at Lake Oswego. I have never seen anything quite like the array of displays along the river.
One house, across the river a bit northward, has intrigued me since I moved here. It appears to be a combination of an old utility building (like an old water works) with an elaborate, multi-storied Mediterranean villa plopped on top of it but I couldn't be sure if it were one or two separate buildings because the river bends at that house.
Today I got my chance - I sailed right in front of it. I learned that the 8 bedroom villa IS built on top of an original pump station. I now saw that it also has a dock with 2 boats, a small boat house and its very own sea plane. As lovely as it all was I found myself thinking about the cost of upkeep. Phew. It is also a lot to dust.
The boys were perfect, the sun shone, the river glistened and, all too soon, we returned to where we departed. We went back to Stephanie and Dan's house and had a lovely time starting the list of what is needed for the annual trek to Yosemite. We leave in two weeks. This time the whole family will be there - Lee and Michelle as well (assuming their work schedules cooperate). I already can't wait. A week camping along the Merced River in sight of Half Dome and Yosemite Falls - can anything be more magnificent?
So thanks to all the family, friends and former students who wished me well today. Several called but I wasn't home - I was out on the river. Ah, it was lovely. 66 is going to be a great year.
First it is summer in Portland - a whole different animal from the rest of the year. The rain disappears to be replaced by lovely blue skies, fluffy clouds and - get ready - sunshine. Today was in the high 70s, low 80s, just about perfect. Stephanie, Dan and the boys joined me in a round-trip, 2-hour river cruise from downtown Portland south to just a bit above where I now live. I have driven alongside the Willamette River - well parts of it - but now I got to see it from mid-stream. It was glorious to sip champagne (it was a Sunday champagne brunch tour) while watching the shoreline slip by. We sailed under 4 bridges and around small and large islands.
There were surprises. Things always look different when looking back at the shore. I found myself trying to figure out what all the riverside buildings were - their riversides looked so different from their street fronts. I also discovered several small neighborhoods of floating houses. I had no idea they existed because you can't see them from the shore. What fun it might be to live in a floating house. I'm sure there can be challenges but on this particular gorgeous day it seemed the perfect place to live.
The OFH (Old Folks Home, my irreverent name for the retirement community where I now joyously live) is right on the Willamette River, well we are at the top of a bluff overlooking the river. I can see across to lovely estates along the opposite shore. By the way, what a feast of fire works displays these riverside owners set off on the Fourth of July. I watched from an apartment on the 6th floor and was amazed as their fireworks exploded in front of me. When I looked north I could see, way in the distance, the fireworks from Portland and Vancouver and when I looked south, I could see ones set off by folks at Lake Oswego. I have never seen anything quite like the array of displays along the river.
One house, across the river a bit northward, has intrigued me since I moved here. It appears to be a combination of an old utility building (like an old water works) with an elaborate, multi-storied Mediterranean villa plopped on top of it but I couldn't be sure if it were one or two separate buildings because the river bends at that house.
Today I got my chance - I sailed right in front of it. I learned that the 8 bedroom villa IS built on top of an original pump station. I now saw that it also has a dock with 2 boats, a small boat house and its very own sea plane. As lovely as it all was I found myself thinking about the cost of upkeep. Phew. It is also a lot to dust.
The boys were perfect, the sun shone, the river glistened and, all too soon, we returned to where we departed. We went back to Stephanie and Dan's house and had a lovely time starting the list of what is needed for the annual trek to Yosemite. We leave in two weeks. This time the whole family will be there - Lee and Michelle as well (assuming their work schedules cooperate). I already can't wait. A week camping along the Merced River in sight of Half Dome and Yosemite Falls - can anything be more magnificent?
So thanks to all the family, friends and former students who wished me well today. Several called but I wasn't home - I was out on the river. Ah, it was lovely. 66 is going to be a great year.
