We made the drive into Portland a leisurely drive. We found a dump station (necessary stop) in a town along the way, then made our way to a park in Portland near Jason's house. Our son Jason is the reason for our stop in Portland. We have not seen Jason for over a year and a half and he was the impetus for this trip. Today though he had to work until six, and since he was working from home, we delayed our arrival until six pm. The park that we found was beautiful, and a good place for Harper to play. I got some blogging done and naps were in order. We only had a couple of hours to kill and it really went by rapidly. What a reunion when we arrived.. it was so very good to get that first hug.
It was a tight fit, but I got it in!
Carol and I, and even Harper knew this was a day to relish and remember. We had been planning this for quite a while. Jason has moved into a new place since we last visited in 2019. He took measurements, and I did the math, and the Doodle should fit comfortably in front of his garage. Well, it fit!
It took some doing but I got it in without incident. We couldn't open the doors, or put out the slider out, but it was in. Jason also could not get his car out of his garage...I guess we didn't plan as well as we thought.
Ultimately we became street people. . .
Ultimately we put the Doodle on the street in front of his place and it all worked out just fine. For the next week or so we had an absolutely fantastic visit. There was endless hours of catching up, telling stories, watching videos and looking at pictures. Jason friend Kate came by a couple of times..she is like family - it was good catching up with her too.
Coffee from Louisiana
We visited friends in Salem, the Oregon state capitol, and had a great time there. His friends Chris and Jenny, just had a baby. Rocco is just three months old and is as cute as every baby before him, or maybe even a bit cuter. Rocco was born at the time Chris and Jenny were moving into the new house and starting new jobs..these are some busy folks.
Jason and Rocco in Salem
They are also people who I wish every reader of this blog could meet. They are a special couple and we are so very happy that we had the time with them, and even more happy that Jason has such special friends. We spent the night at Chris and Jennys’ and Sunday morning other friends stopped by after a great breakfast. We planned a super lunch on the deck, pulled pork and pasta salad and amazing Cole slaw. Awesome.
Jenny, Rocco and Carol on the deck
Jason is shopping for a home in Salem. Before lunch we went to an open house, and it was nice, but was not the one. On the way out of Salem, after that great lunch, we visited a farm supply store... well did I feel stupid... I didn't know what half the stuff was. They did have cowboy hats and boots, and lots of things to groom your horse with . . . and tractor parts. We bought dog toys. . .
Chris, Jason and I
Back on Interstate 5 and we were soon back in Portland. Jason’s place is a very nice and comfortable spot for him at this time. We are happy that he has found such nice place. Since covid he has been working from home and had a perfect setup for work. He also has lots of hobbies, like his father, and has developed places to accommodate them. HIs latest passion, and likely a long lasting passion, is scale model trains. He is just beginning but seem to really know his stuff. He has the beginnings of a great layout in his workshop - we played a lot.
Jason and his trains.
We also had the worlds best smash burger, just down the street, and supper on the water at a floating restaurant on the Columbia River. We visited a woodworking store where I got a fantastic Father's Day dovetail saw, thanks Jason!
At the Island Cafe on the Columbia River
It was a wonderful visit. It is always an interest time getting fully reacquainted when so much time has passed, although Jay has been especially diligent in keeping in contact with his old folks during this covid era. Saying good-bye was heartbreaking. Just when we got really comfortable we had to say good-bye. It seemed as though we had just gotten there. Please, let's hope it is not another 18 months before we can all be together again. The last few hours of today have been difficult for Carol and I driving away from Jason was especially tough, as it seems tougher each time we say good-bye. Jason we miss you already and we are only a few hours down the road. Let's talk more tomorrow and catch up on all that has happened. . .
The images below are likely confusing. They are: pictures of Jasons house, random pics of the train set, Nike campus (Nike is the big client of Jasons work), we cut each others hair, the visit with Chris, Jenny and Rocco, The state capitol in Salem, the woodworking store, a visit with Kate, more train set and the final pic is me getting into the Doodle to leave… tears were flowing
The images above are likely confusing. They are: pictures of Jasons house, random pics of the train set, we cut each others hair, the visit with Chris, Jenny and Rocco, The state capitol in Salem, the woodworking store, more train set and the final pic is me getting into the Doodle to leave… tears were flowing