Back from Portland, I am wearing the white lace duster that I was (until now) afraid to wear over a lopsided cropped tee (gray)with green harem pants and lime green Keds
Some photos from my trip to see my daughter
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Before we begin,
Welcome new subscribers!
I’m delighted that you’re here. Like this post, most everything I write on Becoming Real is free. Paid subscribers get a little more - workshops. And right now, we’re doing our very first one: Constellation - Illuminating Your Everyday Experience. For just $8/month, you get the full curriculum. All the workshops (or save $16 and do the yearly subscription. Learn more/Become a paid subscriber here.
Now, I promised you photos of my trip.
Here they are, in no particular order.
Katie’s housemate was traveling during the first week of my stay. He gifted me his apartment, which included this deck (which he built) overlooking their backyard garden. Because my body was still on New York time the first week, I rose before dawn. I sat out here every morning with my (very) early morning tea.
This is a silly selfie, which we took after eating a lot of french fries - they were so yum! - at Harlow, a vegan restaurant on SE Division Street,
(We also LOVED Norah (vegan) on SE Belmont. Amazing, surprising, delicious food. We dined there another night with my niece, Samantha, who also lives in PDX and, once again, I forgot to take a photo.)
Portland was in full bloom when I arrived - the herbs that struggle in my northeastern garden grow like hedges here. Lavender and rosemary in bushes, thyme overflowing raised beds. These are the poppies I passed every morning on my way to the vegan cafe.
This is the post that I wrote there.
This is us at the Columbia River Gorge. Me, squinting into the sun beside my girl, who remembered to wear a hat. I am wearing the sweater that she gave me when I arrived with all the wrong clothing in my suitcase. I left during a New York heat wave (90 degrees) and arrived to 50 degree mornings.
This is layering country - and I have learned to pile clothing on, peeling it off as the day warms. I have also adopted this sweater.
This is some scenery with my daughter in the middle, rescuing wild lupine.
On my first day, we headed for the Portland Flea Market, a weekly mostly vintage event that runs all summer. My daughter, who’s a production designer, made it look easy to set up a mini-store in twenty minutes. (I may have to try this where I live.)
Some of Katie’s vintage merch.
Here is a stealth photo of me, taken by my daughter, at Memory Den, where she has a shop. This remarkable factory/warehouse building has been converted into dozens and dozens of small shops, each curated by a different vendor. This is not Katie’s shop (because I forgot to take a pic) but I hope it gives you a feel for the way that these incredible, creative vendors are working with the vast, open space. (Note: See my green Keds? Also, please note that I am wearing many many layers.)
More gorgeous flowers. Roses, cascading along the sidewalk on Missippi Avenue, one of Portland’s main streets. In the back of this photo, you will see the sign for Fifty - Fifty, the pizzeria/ice cream restaurant made famous by Netflix’s “Chef’s Table”. (We still have not eaten there because we are gluten and dairy free right now. Maybe next time. )
Our last day was breakfast and driving to the Portland bins (for mega thrifting) and making sure that we say every single thing we have to say to one another before I go.
(Also, reminding one another that, even when we are on opposite coasts there is texting and zooming and phone.)
In the car, Katie and I came up with this shorthand way of explaining boundaries to caring (recovering codependent) people (aka both of us).
It goes like this: “If I trust that you will tell me No when you don’t want something, I will trust that you can take care of yourself. When I trust you, I can stop worrying about you. This lets me see you as a whole person who can take care of yourself. This sets me - and you - free.”
BACK HOME
Two days after a 15-day stay in Portland, I find myself pulling the most outlandish costumes from my closet. Like right now, sitting at this table at Whole Foods Market, I am wearing a long white lace duster over a lopsided cropped gray tee with olive green harem pants and my lime green Keds. Over it all, I’ve layered my favorite rose pink cotton poncho.
Why am I telling you what I’m wearing? Because dressing in whatever wacky combination of fabrics, textures and colors feel good is one of the ways that I am recently feeling aliveness coming alive in me. Very much enjoying making this photo scrapbook for you.
The fourth module of our Constellation Workshop drops tomorrow. Until then, I am sending you all the blessings and big big love.
xxoo
~ Amy
PS If you’re in Portland, visit my daughter’s stores:
Lost House Vintage, at Memory Den Vintage Mall, 499 SE 2nd Ave. Portland, OR
Lost Winter Vintage, same location - different booth.
Lost Circus Vintage, at Curios on Hawthorne, 3713 SE Hawthorne Blvd
Amy- I love the serendipitous tone of this piece, filled with joy and discovery with a dearest daughter. Not to mention Portland’s best. Wonderful words!
🥰