PDX -- That Was Fun

I went to Portland without Kathe today. I hardly ever do things without her, but I had a rarish opportunity due to a space in my schedule, and since Kathe didn't want to go, I devoted the day to hanging out with my Portland friends, spending time with them without having to worry about Kathe being bored or annoyed.

Preparing for the trip, I looked at the box of graphic novels that the Library had chosen not to shelve (see yesterday's entry). Since they had undergone the iconic experience of being hauled in a little red wagon, I decided to take them to Portland and see if Francine or Diane wanted to borrow them.

I met Kathe's daughter Sarah for lunch. She got a kick out of showing me around her workplace, introducing me as her "stepfather". Her amusement at being 45 with a 44-year-old stepfather reminded me of when my son Waldy was born. We went to visit Sarah, and Sarah's son Loy, then six, invited his friends in to see his "baby uncle".

Sarah bought me some food at a Chinese buffet, and while we sat eating and talking in her car, Kathe called my cell phone to inform me that she'd received a text message from our daughter Asnakech, reminding her that today is Ash's 23rd birthday. We were partly excused by the fact that Ash barely remembered it herself.

I went by the apartment Asnakech shares with our son Tesfaye but nobody was home at that point, so off to Tigard to see Francine. I met Francine when we were both innocent yougn college students who could be moved to tears by the (first) death of Jean Grey. It had been a long time since we'd been able to spend a couple of hours together, and it was good to catch up.

I dropped by Ash and Tes' place again and found them home. We had coffee and talked about old times.

Next, I crossed the river yet again to see Diane, a friend of more recent vintage than Francine but also valued and too seldom-seen. Her collection of fantasy memorabilia of all kinds continues to grow.

And then home, and boy did it get late. But a couple of hours of driving in the dark (ecch) were worth it. I feel so good after blowing a day doing what I wanted to do.