While sitting behind a computer part of the day, working, getting eye strain and wanting to be finished...my mind wandered to the stormy weather we have been having. Thunder and lightning... with bouts of sunshine peeking through the clouds and downpours.
It used to be a tradition with my younger boys when we lived near Tigard, Oregon.. while I worked and attended college; to drop everything and have a fun adventure day in Portland during the Autumn season. We would park in the Beaverton area near the main Light rail terminal and jump aboard for some spontaneous fun. We would sometimes "surf ride" in the isle or stand in the connecting part of the cars for a 'twistier' ride. You learn to make your own fun with simple things~ My son Jess learned and mimicked the announcements on the overhead...including the Spanish parts!
Sometimes we would get off in the tunnels and go hit the Zoo for a couple hours, then back on the Rail to find fun in Pioneer square. A lot of the times they will have canopies set up with some kind of event going on. We would make our way to the Pioneer mall after hitting the ice cream parlor ( or the specialty candy store...depending on the mood). Around that time the city would have decorated their tree lined streets with tiny white lights...such a warm magical ambiance it would bring.
We always, hit the Light rail and meandered to the Chinese district so I could stock up on oriental soaps, sticks, and trinkets for the kids. The shop owners were so entertaining to converse with.
Back on the rail, as we headed to the Lloyd center Mall. Three stories of shops and a nice ice skating rink in the middle. I tried once to skate-it didn't turn out well. But at least I tried! My boys favorite store at that time was the Halloween Costume shop. My family is full of goofballs, including me. So I will leave it to your imagination how that went! Ha..yes...pretty much!!!!
When we tired of that, we would head back to the Burnside bridge and Riverwalk area to eat at Kell's Irish Pub. ( Kids ate there during day hours) Best Irish food around. The ceiling was plastered with quarters wrapped in paper money. The servers would take the donations ( to be given to the children's hospital....whoop and holler and throw it at the ceiling and it would "magically" stick. A fun way to help others. After a long day..and it was usually dusk by then..all the lights in the streets would sparkle and tell us it was time to return home.
We would ride the Rail home quietly reflecting on the good time we just shared. Before I drove home, I would jump into Trader Joes, next to where we parked, and bought a few items to bring back for snacking later on. My boys would usually pass out on the way home. I would build a fire in the wood fireplace and we would watch a scary or comedy movie on tv until their bedtime.
My grown kids have great memories of our spontaneous adventures while I was a single mother. Life was very hard for me those days. But I made sure they had home cooked meals, hugs, smiles, a safe place to fall when they needed it, a good roof over their heads and plenty of laughter and adventures.
That's important in life, no matter what crap is handed to you..
You just need to step back out of the roughness and find ways to keep smiling and create fun moments to break up the same old stuff you deal with every day. Being positive can turn things around. You need to persevere to find your happy flow.
Portland Oregon-New lighted bridge
Portland Lightrail in Autumn
Pioneer Square in December
The Max ( Lightrail ) tunnel to the Zoo and V. Memorial
Lloyd Center and Mall. We never really bought much here. Just looked around and goofed on different things-it's a family art! ha~
It's fun to watch the pro skaters practice
Portland Union Train Station. Took off from here many times for other adventures and travels. I love my trains!
The Pittock Mansion, Portland. I never got the chance, all the years living near, to go visit and hit the trails around there. It is definitely on my list of to-do! Maybe this Fall???!!!... Hmmmmm
Keep Smiling- Peace Out my friends~
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