Sister On The Go: Getting to Portland

Funny how many people ask me "Why Portland?" I tell them "Mom wants me to go." Then I have explain how that is when she died 17 months ago. Last August I decided I would use my portion of the money from Mom's estate to do some traveling. Mom always called me her wanderer. I have not been anywhere for some time and decided Mom would want me to use some of her money this way. As I started researching Thailand and Viet Nam, ads for Portland OR would pop up. Every time I picked up a magazine it would open to an ad for Portland. Suddenly, every stranger I dealt with through my job had stories about Portland. During my visit to Richmond to visit my relatives I learned more about Portland during lunch when my Aunt said "You know your Uncle Bill and I lived in Portland for 3 months. No, I had not been aware of that. Finally in March, I started reading a book my sister gave me for Christmas. The first 4 words in the book: "Winters in Portland, Oregon..." I threw the book onto my bed. "OK, Mom, I get it. You want me to go to Portland!" That weekend, I booked the trip. I invited my friend, Tammy, to go with me. Mom would want to gift this trip to her and I can't think of anyone better to have along.

I got up early Friday morning to get to my office to check in online for my flight to Indiana. At 6:00 AM, I backed out of my garage and hit a friend's car, knocking off the side view mirror.

Today at 6:00 AM I was going through security when my new hip set off alarms. I was asked to have a seat while they checked in everyone else. I had my first pat down.

Tammy picked me up at the Indianapolis Airport. We have already had so much fun beginningwith lunch at Cheddar's.