Tunnels and Bridges and Books...Oh My!

I'm not a city girl. And hoping not to offend a lot of our wonderful friends and relatives, I must say that I am especailly not a Portland girl. So driving alone through the highways and biways and endless bridges that take you so high you almost get an earache is not my idea of a good time. Yes, I do admire the skyline and there are some very admirable qualities about the Rose city, don't get me wrong. But for some reason, no matter how long I live near this metropolis, I simply cannot find my way around, no matter how hard I try. And to be very honest, the whole atmostphere there simply doesn't feel comfortable. Tony understands but teases me anytime we all go there as a family, especially downtown. "Hang on...we're going to walk a few blocks through downtown now..." he'll say, sarcasim dripping...or something to that effect.
So, when friends of mine both had to cancel at the last minute to go to the Christian Home school Curriculum fair with me, I was left with a decision. Forget the whole thing... or go alone. (Tony is behind me all the way with our home school plan, but has no interest in curriculum fairs.) The other gals and I originally had thought of taking the Max...but for some reason, that didn't appeal to me alone. Not sure why. But I decided to be brave and head out alone.
I have now just taken it for granted that I will get just a tiny bit lost at least, even with a map printout. So I wasn't too shocked when I accidently veered off onto 86 heading east, away from my destination, the Memorial collesium. Saying a little prayer, I got off at the first exit and then yay!-just by guessing, I managed head down the right street where a beautiful sign telling me "Rose Quarter- this lane!" beamed up ahead at me.

And to add to my satisfaction, once inside, I found myself actually having a nice time roaming around the curriculum fair alone! I spoke with the many vendors and chatted with a woman I had met only briefly while visiting another home school group. I found endless types of educational material and filled up my tote bag, pausing to eat lunch by a peaceful water fountain. It was a surprisingly nice (howbeit tiring) experience!

But back on the road...well, don't laugh, but I ended up taking a wrong turn again and finding myself in the dreaded DOWNTOWN! Pedestrians would walk in front of me, in spite of my green light, and then I'd turn, only to find myself at a road closure near a one-way street...so I'd circle around...would I ever get out of this place?!

After some lost time, I finally found the Beaverton sign and could breathe at last on my beloved west side...through the tunnel, past the zoo sign, and onto home.
For any of those reading this that are not big-city impared as I am, you may not understand why it is necessary for me to lose my way back home almost every time I drive to Portland- afterall, isn't Beaverton just across the river? How hard can that be? But trust me...unless you are either born into Portland- or naturally directionally gifted...or, as in my husband's case- both- you, too, might find yourself one day sadly driving around in circles, desperately searching for that elusive Beaverton\26 sign.

What did I learn about this adventure?
1) Being alone at a curriculum fair means browsing to your heart's content and leaving whenever you feel like it. Although I love spending time with girlfriends, having no one to answer to can be a good thing.
2) Doing something that requires me to get out of my comfort zone can really build confidence.
3) Downtowners in Portland love to throw caution to the wind in order to cross the street, somehow believing that they will always be spared...especially if a Starbucks or Peet's Coffee shop awaits them on the side.

Okay...next time I'll take the Max.

States I've been to...

Hey, I've covered some ground! Not bad for simple northwestern girl. In all fairness, though, I have to admit that at least half of these states were simply "just passin' though" states during Tony's Navy days! Still, I was there!

create your own visited states map
or check out these Google Hacks.

Father's Day thoughts...Remembering Dad

I am not sure why it is that I can go for a long period of time, barely thinking of a loved one who is now in Heaven because of life's all-consuming busy days...only to become sentimental again, reliving those special memories.
This month, my thoughts turn towards my Dad...perhaps with Father's Day this coming Sunday...perhaps because he also passed away in June. But for whatever reasons, I'm remembering him.

Not all my memories of him are pleasent ones...there were many years wasted due to alcoholism, which snatched away some of my happy childhood. But I can look back and know that he would never have chosen to waste not only some of his life, but to hurt me emotionally in any way...he loved me. And when by God's grace he was delivered from his bondage, he tried to serve Him with all that he had...and he was sometimes plagued with guilt over those stolen years.

Some of my good memories, though, are of when I was very young and Daddy would put me on his shoulders for a ride. He was so tall! Not just to my little child's persective, but at six foot two, I was just a bit nervous up there, riding in the clouds. We'd vist my grandparents who lived next to my great-aunt's meat market and cow pasture and I'd laugh as he'd make mooing sounds that mimicked the cattle exactly.
It was just my parents and me as I grew up...we'd camp, go fishing and ride in our motorboat. I was elated when he let me "drive" the boat one day, when I wasn't more than five or six.
And years later- when he had stopped drinking and was living again for the Lord- we'd have wonderful heart-to-heart talks. He took our family on a road trip to California twice...the first time when I was fourteen and we brought my eleven year old nephew along (whom I got along with great!) ...and the second was in my early twenties. We brought one of my friends, and dispite the fact that he was now on "home dialysis" from kidney disease, he still did most of the driving.
In his last years he contined to try and work hard to provide a living and was determined not to give into his disease. He was a fighter, a perseverer. And like David in the Bible who fell so short of God's plan during part of his life, he was someone who's heart sought after God and he returned to Him with all of his being.

So...though I can't erase totally some of the bad memories that smudged up my growing years like a smeared painting, I do still remember the good qualities of my dad...his sometimes quiet strength, tender heart and perserverence. I wish he could have met my husband...and especially his little granddaughters. I wish I could sit down with him sometimes now and have a good heart to heart talk again. But that won't happen until I get to heaven, and until then, I'll try and remember the good things, to learn from the bad, to forgive...and to miss him.

I love you, Dad. Happy Father's Day.
~Tammy