Four Parks
After a postponement to staying in Bend with Elise and Jamie due to wildfire smoke and an AQI in the 150’s, our friends decided to take a day trip to Portland from Seattle, and they wanted to meet up. They had a 3 hour drive an an errand so we didn’t know what time we’d meet, and you wanted to show me Whitaker park where you recently went birding, so we started there while we waited.
As soon as we got there and walked to the first pond we saw a crane and two egrets, flying around and landing on logs, as well as a couple geese and ducks, plus many swooping swifts. We walked around the pond and you got to see what it’s like in the daylight, compared to your previous visit in the evening. Near an old school that is now a native youth center we picked blackberries. Then we parked ourselves on a dock and watched schools of ducklings paddling around their mom.
My dream.
A woman was being questioned by a “good” cop bad cop combo in the parking lot so we decided to jet and stop at the nearby Fernhill park to lay in the grass and talk about our future. We watched and met dogs, then E&J said they were ready to meet up at Pittock Mansion.
We start down a trail with them and Elise’s friend Jesse from grad school who brought his hairless cat on a leash. We had a great time chatting in clusters as we descended into Forrest park, and then reversed and walked right back to the car so you could get to an oracle card reading with friends at the rose garden of Washington park, nearby. Though we were no longer together, I felt connected with you still as I walked around the rose garden with E&J, thinking of you.
Peninsula Park Rose Garden
Right before the heatwave in the 90’s+ for a week or more, Lauren said she was going to see the roses before they wilt, and we decided to stroll there too.
There were people sitting and doing yoga in shady places, so we had to navigate through the foliage as if it were a maze. There was a dude playing music while riding a bike really fast and skidding out on the gravel, and a bunch of kids were splashing in the no-swimming fountain.
There was a drum community event going, where anyone could start hitting drums of all types along with 15 or so other people. We thought about drumming too, but we both chickened out; instead we listened and talked while paying in the grass, watching dogs.
Returning to Yachats for our anniversary
After a difficult year financially, your mom and dad gifted us $600 to go to Yachats, the beach town we got engaged in. We stayed at the Fireside next to the Overleaf where I grabbed breakfast from for us.
We had The Green Salmon coffee and sat with different Oracle and Tarot decks. Our favorite restaurant closed, so we had BBQ from a food cart. We too a long walk on the rocks, thankfully stopping for some much needed water, but we did get sunburned. We explored the sandy beach for the first time which I didn’t even know was there, it’s cute! We found the spot where I proposed, and sat remembering how silly I was and how much we love each other.
Lost in the Woods
An unbelievable dream came true where we got to dance to Elijah Wood DJ’s vinyl records at 45East for a fantasy themed event.
We wore our Tom Bombadil and Goldberry costumes from Halloween. Others had chainmail and elf ears and crazy outfits. Surreal and so fun. Elijah and his fellow DJ had no control over the visuals but were delighted and tickled with the choices that the venue picked, including the big dog from The Never Ending Story, when they played a famous track from that.
2023 Summer Trip - Finland
We almost didn’t go! Can you believe? We planned our official honeymoon for the summer of 2023 to go to England and Scotland. A few weeks before we left, I asked… “We’re going to be right there, why don’t we hop over to Finland for a week??”
The whole epic trip was amazing and long, so I’ll break it up into episodes. Starting with Finland. I liked the idea of trying a Finnish sauna but otherwise wasn’t super interested and was asking primarily so that we could achieve one of your life goals and desires. The language barrier and unfamiliarity was a substantial trepidation for me, though I figured we’d get around just fine with your Finnish and by being American… I had no idea how much I was going to LOVE it there. The landscape, the people, the airports, the air, all the lakes, the fooooood. Grilling sausages with buns and mustard on the grill outside. Watching the reindeer wander past our cabin. Steaming and dunking and steaming and dunking. So purifying. So lovely.
First we have to talk about the airports. Finnish airports leave every other airport in the dust, in ruins! Bean bags, baby grand piano, bird song and bidets in the bathrooms, a 360 degree naturescape relaxation lounge, good eateries without all the fast food franchises, cushioned benches and recliners with No Fixed Armrests! We didn’t want to leave!
We rented electric bikes and had some fun going up and down the hills of Rukatunturi, stopping for a plate of reindeer meat.
We drove down to Seivi to find your ancestors graves, and toured an old schoolhouse turned into museum.
At our cabin we would take the row boat out and eat some sausages. I was feeling very sick, both from my mold and fibromyalgia healing process, but also from the massive jet lag, so you graciously did most of the rowing.
We went to a reindeer farm too meet some amazing creatures, feed and pet them, and learn so much about them, including that every reindeer in Finland is property; there are no wild reindeer. Also the southern half of Finland must keep all reindeer in corrals, but the northern half has them tagged and wandering free, which was great because there were so many wandering the streets and through our cabin property.
Since we tacked on Finland to the beginning of the trip after already purchasing the England flights, we had 11 flights in total, 4 just to get to Finland. I was so thankful I could bring my THC vape through all security checkpoints, cause I needed that SO BAD the whole trip.
We take a stroll through Oulu at the end of our trip and find a market and shops, which is awesome because I lost my wedding ring in the lake at our cabin and needed a replacement asap.
For Part 2 of our trip, we went on a massive tour of England. ADD LINK
And Part 3, we tour Scotland in a camper van. ADD LINK
Andrew Bayer with Carl at 45East
At 45East dancing to Andrew Bayer. When we walked in the opener was playing some Anjuna track that had me dancing immediately. We had a great time though we were all a bit low energy. Your smile pulls me through any downbeat.
Winter Lights Festival
Janice love going to the Portland Winter Lights Festival. The year before went with you, and this year invited me and the whole family. She brought string lights for us to wear as we toured different light installations around downtown. You looked stunning in your puffy coat and lit up with copper and illumination.
We were stopped by an Oregon Live photographer that took some shots of all of us minus Tim who had walked off.
Bellingham, WA wedding of Meghan and Alex
We drove up with Elizabeth (because Takeshi couldn’t make it) to Bellingham on Thursday, stopping on the way in Tacoma for food and a memory lane stroll through the UPS campus. We shuttled ourselves back and forth between bridesmaids events, and close friend events, and guest events, and the hotel.
We joined the rehearsal dinner for pizza in a lakeside park. You enjoyed some Bachelorette parting, and then at the bachelor(ette) afterparty, we reunited and enjoyed mac and cheese bits and chicken tenders with dips at an arcade bar with pinball.
Friday we got brunch at Greene’s Corner, the best walk up bar with health food. I can’t even remember what we ordered but it was so delicious and healthy. I got a kombucha and you got a tea.
Having some time to kill, we visited the Big Rock Garden, where we met Turtle, and explored a bunch of beautiful and fascinating sculptures!
We arrived on time and waited to be let in, and Margaret looked fucking fire in her green silk dress. We enjoyed the beautiful ceremony with very personal and touching vows.
The dance party went all night long playing a list of songs the guests help curate.
And around the corner was a room full of pies and cookies! Woah.
The next morning, we joined the wedding party for brunch at a place overwhelmed for the day, having no espresso, too few workers, and out of some foods. But we had a great chat and coffee after. We stopped to get Jalapeño White Balsamic Vinegar and Cilantro & Onion Olive Oil from Drizzle.
We started heading back after that and stopped in Tacoma again at Fire House no. 9, Elizabeth’s father’s favorite.
Nora En Pure at 45East
Out at 45East for the night, we sat in the back together waiting for Nora, and then enjoy the majority of her set from the middle back. It was so nice to relax and then let loose, and the music is just so groovy and calming, but also engaging.
Mt. Rainer with Karin
We couldn’t get enough of our honeymoon destination, so we packed up and headed back to Mt. Rainier for a long weekend of camping with Kate’s aunt Karin, who secured a camping spot at White River for us.
The river was so peaceful and calming, we enjoyed hours of just sitting by the rushing glacier water and soaked in the freshest air.
I cherish my time up there with you, Margaret.
When leaving, we drove the long way to go all the way around the mountain, and stopped at Mill Haus Cider Co. in Eatonville, WA because it is worth driving hours out of the way for, even when they sold their last sliders right before us! The flat bread was incredible. And the live music was really fun and funny, great character.
Margaret’s 32nd Birthday
Down on the water for Mag's stand up paddle boarding birthday. Friends came including Carl and Lauren, Sherryi, Kate and Charlie, and Gillian! I made virgin piña coladas, and floated downstream in shavasana after SUP yoga. We then paddled together over to a massive brick structure.
The women did tandem SUP with Gillian sitting with Mags, and Sherryi clinging for life as Kate takes charge of the board. The weather was perfect, and the atmosphere divine. We wore our hats to protect from the sun, but Margaret's glow still radiated all of us.
After friends, Margaret and Brendan went to Bella Pizza, then went to see a Darryll Scott at the Alberta Rose theatre! It was a great night, with a shared kombucha and a CD for the road.
Pick-a-thon
My birthday present to you in 2022 was two 4 day passes to Pick-A-Thon, a Bluegrass, Americana, Country, Rock, Blues, and anything you want to play festival. I was still coming down from my high of experiencing my second Above & Beyond Group Therapy Weekender when this came to us, just a neighborhood away in Happy Valley. You had never been but had always wanted to go, with many bands you’ve known and loved having played here before.
It was exactly and nothing like I expected. It was simultaneously more produced and put together while also looking home grown and improvised.
We got lunch on day one and had to buy Pickathon plates. At first I balked a bit at the cost and what felt like a money grab, then I realized it was to reduce waste, encouraging everyone to wash and reuse the plates. Now they’re my two favorite plate/bowls!
We toured each stage and wandered without much of a goal in mind.
My favorite area was a nook away in the woods with blankets and rugs and meditation pillows. This is where a sound bath and guided meditation and yoga sessions were held, plus a essential oil salt smeller workshop.
The lights on the trees at night created such an atmosphere. The people attending were all having a great time. I loved that we got to listen to things we’d never heard of, relax into each other, dance, and have such a fun and weird and new experience. I wouldn’t have wanted to do that with anyone else.
Our home, The Cottage.
Margaret,
I found and bought this house a couple months before we met, but you immediately made your presence know, felt, welcome, and home; The Cottage was always ours, even if I didn't always see that. Yeah, it's my project, but it's our home, our first home. It's because of you that all of the greatest memories from here are joyous, important, inspiring, and meaningful. Your ideas and questions and encouragement have made massive changes to that fate of this house, and all for the better. We raised a dog from poor to good health here. We worked on our health together here. We lived through wildfire smoke, and driveway fire, and crazy ice storms here.
This house loves you.
I speak house now too. Just.. That's a thing I do. From remodeling. Don't think about it too much. The house loves you.
Claire and Aaron’s wedding reception
After double checking that I had my wallet, I dropped it in the driveway before heading to the airport, so we flew separately down to LA, to celebrate Aaron and Claire’s beautiful love.
We met at a health food market, and then walked to Venice Beach.
Played a bit on the sand, watched a bit of a basketball game, and then walked to the venue in Culver City, lol.
The reception was funny and fun. Kathy was perfectly inebriated and sharing loud stories. Friends were mingling and playing games. We found out later the whole party was an escape room that Claire designed!? So cool. Aaron performed a few songs with friends, including a massive sing along with Pink Cadillac.
We walked to a hotel I booked that night cause we were invited to brunch the next morning.
We grab some new clothes from a Ross and enjoyed some sausage and eggs, then got to chat with Aaron and Claire and friends for a good while.
We got robot delivered dumplings from a Chinese place before catching a Lyft to the airport.
Jessi and Owen visit post wedding
We joined Jessi at her Rockaway Beach Airbnb and took Owen for a walk on the beach. It was so warm and comfortable, just the perfect sandy beach.
We passed around the little guy in the backpack and somehow we got this gem of a photo:
And we got some water playtime, then ate some fish and chips.
Family photo on the cow.
Then we wished them farewell until later that week.
Perfect place to get a little dirty and sun kissed.
We took Owen and Jessi to our secret swimming hole in Washington, and we were concerned about the algae, but looked it up and found it wasn’t toxic. It was a great swim and beautiful day.
And getting a little alone time with Owen, we practiced with the glory of balls, in different styles.
Our Wedding
The best day of our lives.
You. Looked. Incredible. Just stunningly beautiful. I was slack jawed. I felt so lucky and honored and happy to get to start our new life, with you.
Mary and Larry did so much prep work for the place to look amazing for us. Aaron and Claire, and your parents and brother, all came to help construct and help with getting the property ready, including misting fans and handrails and string lights. We smudged each other, in front of everyone! The coffee grinder was emptied of the preground beans, so during our ceremony there was almost no coffee to brew, but it made a refreshing essence of coffee water that we actually quite enjoyed.
Our vows couldn’t have been more perfect. I was very proud of mine, working on them and revising for months. Yours were exactly what I wanted and needed to hear, and had me falling apart with happiness.
I slaved over making a Piña Colada recipe that didn’t use artificial ingredients, just real foods, for the slushy machine that Ben loaned us, and it worked!! Both that and my mom’s margarita mixes were a hit in the sweltering 99° heat. We rented an extra bathroom on wheels and people* would go there just for the AC.
*Maybe that was just Yuvi.
We had 6 amazing toasts from our friends and family. Both of us felt so connected to our people, honored by them, accepted, loved.
We danced and dipped. You and your dad were practiced. Me and my mom spun around to Aaron’s serenade. Then we all shook it off to Taylor. Did I mention you were drop dead gorgeous?
The cake was delicious, raspberry pistachio, and beautiful.
All our family and friends got along. People talked and mingled and said wonderful things about us. They were all so happy to be there and witnessing our union of love.
It was perfect.
Fiordalice Mt. Hood/Welches condo
In December 2020, we stayed here together while I worked on the condo. We both went through a bit of a bender on ice cream and Jimmy Dean curosaunts from Grocery Outlet. Jude stayed with us and got a little cold at times. One of my jobs was to add heaters. Poor pup.
A year later we came back for more. We went to a BBQ place Tim recommended and it was amazing. We had 2 drinks, one was a Hot Tody? I remember it being so freaking sweet and milky we could hardly finish it.
We also found this cute food cart with a teepee in the back complete with a fireplace and giant Jenga. It was freezing.
I stayed later there with Jude to finish the job while you returned to normal life. Missed you.
Date night at Eva Green
We were in our alcohol exploration phase, and I thought it’d be fun to surprise you with an expensive plated meal experience. It was just after lockdown lifted, and one of us forgot our Covid vaccine passport so I ran back to get it so we could be let in.
There was a wine pairing with each course. They were all delicious and we decided to grab a bottle of our favorite wine of the night.
It was packed, but all I saw was you.
And the delicious food.
Oregon Wildfires
Summer of 2021, massive wildfires ripped through California and Oregon. The sky was red orange. Smoky haze was everywhere. The AQI was literally off the charts, over 500. We set up air purifiers throughout the house, locked down the windows, and even wore respirators inside. We tried to get Jude to stay inside, but even with the horrible air he wanted to lay in front of the Japanese Maple tree all day, his favorite spot.
Accompanying the fires were heavy winds, and on the power pole in our driveway, the terminals hit together causing sparks that fell and lit the dry grass on fire. The fire department came to put it out. I climbed up a ladder and wrapped them in electrical tape to prevent future fires.
There was a big fire near Lincoln city, and we were worried about my dad and Anita, because they weren’t answering their phones. I made a plan to got search for them, but thankfully just after I left I heard from Jessi that they were driving to Mary and Larry’s.
8 Monthiversary
Early on, we micro-celebrated each month anniversary. For me it was it was a marvel that an angel wanted to associate with me, bright my life with her shining light. I was delighted every moment to feel that you are mine.
On this occasion for 8 months, we enjoyed dinner and a movie on 21st Ave in Portland. We had tacos at a bar, then was it Parasite that we saw at Cinema 21? I was wearing the shirt I made for my podcast, Singing To My Girlfriend, a classic of short iPhone recordings of a song that made me think of you that I would record right before I started working each day.
And then…. Covid-19 lockdown.
