Days 3 & 4 in Portland

Penny called me Saturday night after we left dinner, "diane, I am so sorry but I don't feel well. I don't think I can meet you for church tomorrow morning." And then she continued her encouraging stream of words about me pursuing writing. This weekend, these writers, they really believe that I have what it takes to publish a book. I know I can tell a story. I know I like words. I just wonder if anyone besides my mom and sisters will buy anything I have to say? 

Sunday morning I was breakfasting with Blythe when my phone rang (you should know that I have a new phone and a new phone number and I never hear it ring now. Ada has told me more than once that my phone is ringing). It was Susan, "diane, are you going to Imago Dei for church today? Larry and I can pick you up. See you in 25 minutes." What a beautiful surprise. I popped out of my seat with my coffee in tow and promptly dressed myself for Palm Sunday services.

Walking into Imago Dei with Susan Isaacs only two days after she gave her book performance made me feel a bit (surprisingly) important. We walked in and were greeted by people who knew her and shuffled her around to introduce her to meet more people. She is very gracious, that Susan, and always introduced me as well, "this is diane, she's a writer for Burnside." Later, during the service, I told her how it feels to be introduced that way, "Suz, I'm used to being called Nienhuis the Spanish teacher, or my sister or my daughter...but you've been introducing me as a writer. I kinda like it." She turned to me and said, "diane, it's what you are. You need to own it." She's right. I am surely exhausting people with this story line.

We were shuffled down the hall one last time to be introduced to Rick McKinley, the pastor of Imago Dei. Then we found our seats in the auditorium. We sang, listened, took communion and held hands during prayer. We left church and entered the sunshine and enjoyed our last walk to the car. Susan and I parted ways one last time with a hug. It's been a great weekend with her.

Blythe was planting seeds in her new box garden, the kids had friends over or maybe they were at the neighbors? Sadie was napping. At 3 we left the house to go to a birthday party for one of Ada's school friends. Yes, I brought my suit. Blythe, Ada, Sadie and I hustled to the party and arrived just after the cake was served. It was a fun indoor aquatic center filled with fun things for kids. It kinda reminded me of The Great Wolf Lodge. I took charge of Ada while Blythe managed Sadie as she practiced, with serious diligence and concentration, getting in and out of the pool. 

We got home around 5:30 and 3o seconds later Blythe's mother-in-law arrived with some incredible pizza. She found a fabulous pesto-based roasted vegetable pizza that I got all to myself. How wonderful and generous (and tasty). We sat in the backyard at the tail end of a fabulous sunny day in Portland. The kids practiced racing back and forth across the lawn. Even Sadie. That girl. My goodness. She would line up with her siblings, hunched on the ground (I am certain her belly touched the grass in this position) and she popped up on her feet when her Dad said, "GO!" and she ran and squealed, quite sure that the entire world was playing with her. 

Monday morning ushered in another beautiful day. 75 and sunny. I slept great last night - maybe 10 hours? At the first sound I heard this morning I shoved in some earplugs and woke up only moments before Blythe came back from bringing the kids to school. 

I readied myself in 45 minutes before Blythe, Sadie and I went for a morning hike. We went up Mt. Tabor and we talked (I talked?) non-stop the entire way. I told her about 2007. If you don't remember 2007 was a very difficult year for me. Yep.

We barely returned in time as Sadie was slowly nodding off to sleep in the backpack. That girl. I'm trying to tell you. Blythe and I made an amazing salad and even considered taking pictures of them. We sat out in the sun and talked about prayer and faith and food. She retired to a nap. I retired to the back yard with Anne Lamott's "Bird by Bird" which I started to read last fall, but then I hit my head. Today I started again from page 1. Reading Lamott is like having a personal cheerleader in my pocket. I might have to read the first 30 pages over and over again until I can own them for my own life. 

The sun-kissed me in the backyard today. I think the whole world is conspiring to kiss me lately. And I think I kinda like it.

This evening I took the train from their school to Powell's Bookstore and that is where you find me now. I met with Nate, a teacher I knew at Creston and who moved here last summer with his wife and kids. We talked about Creston, administration, teaching, and Portland. 

I am here until Blythe comes for me but perfectly content to wait. The woman next to me has been here for hours, I'm sure, as the large numbers of coffee cups beside her bear witness. She is surrounded my books on "how to speak French" and is wearing a striped hat while she quietly whispers non-stop to someone somewhere. She entertains me.