THE PORTLAND OF THE PLAINS

Years ago, Chris and I took a trip with our friends, Amy and Brian, to Portland Oregon. This was our second vacation in hunt for our future home. We had started vacationing to places we thought we might want to live one day. The first trip we made was to Seattle and we loved it, but Portland won our hearts. I still remember standing in the airport, waiting to board our plane back to OK and looking down at Amy with tears brimming in my eyes. A lot happened in that trip and I was feeling emotional. I didn’t want to say goodbye to Amy, even though she lived two hours from us, and I didn’t want to say goodbye to Portland. Chris and I left parts of our souls there and had every intention of finding our way back.

Then I got a job offer from a pretty amazing research institute in Kansas City.

We didn’t know much about this city. Chris and I had been to Kansas City for concerts, but those trips had been short weekend trips that didn’t involve much beyond the concert we were attending. We did notice that Kansas City had some things that checked some boxes on our requirements list and the job offer was too good to say ‘no’ to. So, we packed everything up and moved to Kansas City, the Missouri side, and for almost a year, Chris and I spent our spare time getting to know this city. We discovered very quickly that this place had Portland like qualities and that we would be very happy here.

We were very happy and I am still very happy here.

I think though, that I might have forgotten how Portland like this place can be. Maybe I’ve just forgotten to look for those quirky kinds of things. Saturday started out just like any other Saturday. I had my writing/breakfast time and finished up our weekly grocery shopping. We had plans to go to Costco and one other store to finish up Christmas stocking stuffers. So, when Michael got up, we went to lunch and then started making our way to Costco. Along the way, I mentioned something about World Market and Michael said we should stop on the way. Except there was total chaos in Westport and the World Market parking lot was full. Michael just circled through and we continued on to Costco, but then I saw three people dressed as Santas on bicycles. I pointed them out just as a whole new gaggle of Santa bicyclists turned the corner.

I didn’t even have to tell Michael to turn around. He was already on it and turning into the direction where we were seeing the bicyclists. They were all headed to Browns Irish Market and as we pulled up, Michael said “get out and start taking pictures while I find a parking space!” He understood the assignment without needing to be given the assignment. I jumped out and started taking pictures. Michael walked up and we followed the crowd into the backyard seating area of the market. We kind of just stood there in awe for a moment and then I walked up to someone dressed in a Santa business suit giving off ‘leader’ vibes. I looked this business suit Santa square in the eye and said “What is this and how do we get in on it?” The business suit Santa said we were welcome to join them right now, but then told us how to find the group for next year’s ride. I stood there in the cold, and it was really cold here on Saturday, and I committed to dressing in some kind of Santa outfit and riding around the city in December on my bicycle.

We ended up inside the market where Michael found a hat and we waited in a long line with all of the people from the ride. By the time I had an Irish coffee in my hand and Michael had paid for his new hat, I knew that this event would be going on our calendars for next year. Then we headed on over to Costco. At one point Michael was scrolling through the facebook page for the bicycling Santas and I looked over his shoulder and said “Today was one of the most Portland like moments I’ve had in a long time.” He nodded his head in agreement “Oh yeah, that was a complete Portland moment.” I’ve dragged Michael to Portland in hopes that he would see what Chris and I saw in the place. It is the only time Michael has not complained about the food or the service. I don’t know if he left part of his soul there, but he does still talk about some kind meatball he ate while he was there. Anyway, Michael gets it. He sees the value in these weird, fun moments.

He’s already figuring out our bicycle decorations for the ride next year.