A word

Before I went to Portland I had a lot of thoughts about moving there. 

I've been in Michigan now for 9 years. I have lived in my condo, attended the same church, and had the same job for 5 years. I've never done any of those things for so long before. I had the itch for change, real change, adventure.

Also, it had been about 16 months since I'd even left the State of Michigan. This is also a long time for me to stay put. I like to GO. I like to SEE. I like to VISIT. This runs in my family, clearly.

Over Winter Break I was even looking for teaching jobs in Portland. Blythe was encouraging me and this helped, knowing that I would already have one friend there. I was so excited to go and discover the answer to this now burning question, "Will I move?"

I loved visiting Blythe and her family. Her husband soonly joined the "Move diane to Portland" Parade. Others along the way also chimed in. The trip fed me in many ways:

1) I met (more) like minded people. The way I want to live in Michigan takes work. By this I mean, living on the local economy, eating well, living simply, gardening, etc. But in Portland, the entire culture of the city seems to support this lifestyle. This was enticing.

2) The weather. I am sick of Michigan weather. I know, we all are. And I love snow, don't get me wrong. But I just don't need the 4 months of Summer, 1 month of Fall, 6 months of Winter, and 1 month of Spring that we affectionately call Michigan Weather. Portland is an evergreen city. There are only 2 snowplows. It's as rainy and cloudy as Holland, and that's okay with me.

3) I felt as though I was immediately introduced to a writing community. This spoke to me and fed me more than I have words to share with you. 

4) I left my normal life for 8 days. This was just. plain. good.

But then I came home. Actually, it was my 3 hour drive from Detroit to Holland that gave me a lot of time to Really Consider what I want out of life.

1) Family. I have 9 nieces and nephews. Two of 'em live 5 miles away. Three live within a day's drive. And my parents are just down the street. Not to mention my network of wonderful and supportive cousins. 

2) My church. This fall will be my 7 year anniversary at Mars Hill. I adore my community there. It is hard for me to imagine ever finding something like it anywhere else.

3) My house. My house is really pretty. I want to live in it.

And as for all those good things about Portland, well, they are still good. But I also have a wonderful group of friends who are like-minded and pursue the Best Way to Live with me. Same with writing. As Deb said, "the nice thing about being a writer is that you can do it anywhere." She's right. The kicker is that I have to DO it.

And I'm going to. Less than a week after I returned from Spring Break I booked myself 3 nights in a hotel up north. I'm going to do this. I am going to start writing a book, or whatever that means for me right now. 

Portland was the right place for me to go at the exact right time. I needed to be connected to other writers. I needed to go on vacation and won't let another 16 months go by before I leave again, it's not good for my soul. And I know where home is, at least for now.

It's always good to know where Home is.

Pesto Pizza

I love pizza and if you've met me then you know this to be true. I mean it. I really, really love pizza. I will make it on a tortilla, half a bagel, homemade crust, leftover bread, or anything bread-like. And I love marinara sauce. For me, marinara sauce is the heart of the pizza. There is no such thing as too much sauce, in fact, it's good to have a bowl of warm sauce on the side.

Pizza is good. Marinara sauce is good.

Needless to say, I was distraught when I finally came to terms with the fact that I am allergic to tomatoes. How would I ever enjoy my favorite food group again? I mean, really, it's one thing to be allergic to pepperoni because I just found pepper-phony at Trader Joe's. But marinara sauce? For serious? It's just not fair.

Thankfully my favorite local pub has offered me some inspiration. The "D-White Pizza" at New Holland Brewing Company nearly makes my mouth water. Forget nearly, it's actually watering now.

Today I took it upon myself to create my homemade version of this amazing pizza.

Pesto Pizza
1 pkg Betty Crocker crust
2 tbls pesto (made from basil in my garden last summer. I froze it!)
1 cup chopped yellow onion (from Farmers Market -chopped and frozen for the winter!)
1 tsp dried oregano (dried from my garden)
Olive Oil
4 oz Feta cheese crumbles
4 oz Artichoke hearts
4 oz Mozzarella cheese
a smidge of salt
a smattering of Parmesan cheese

Add 1/2 cup of hot water to pizza mix and stir in the oregano. Cover with olive oil and let rest for 5 mins. Meanwhile, saute the frozen onion and pesto in small pan. Set aside. Chop artichoke hearts and shred the mozzarella cheese. Prep the pizza dough unto pizza stone (or cookie sheet).

Coat the pizza dough with a light layer of olive oil. Then spread the onion and pesto mixture evenly. Top with chopped artichokes, sprinkle with salt (trust me!) and parmesan cheese. Finally, add the mozzarella and feta cheese.



Bake @ 450 for 14 mins. Enjoy!

Sadie

Days 5 & 6 in Portland

I have no sense of time in my guest bedroom and this is alright with me. More than alright as the absence of all clocks makes me feel as though I can truly relax and enjoy vacation.

That being said, the knock on my door Tuesday morning at 7 a.m. was a reminder that it was time to rise up and face the day. I mind my own business here in the morning as I don't want to interfere with the dynamics of parents getting their kids ready for school. And, more to the point, I am trying to remember what to wear on a sunny and blue sky kind of day. I wore a pink skirt and felt delicious.

We dropped Jonas and Ada off at school before Sadie (my new best friend), Blythe and I journeyed out to Multnomah Falls. Friday night over wine a Portlander said, "So, what are you going to see while you are here?" and I looked at Blythe and replied, "Whatever she takes me to see. What are your suggestions?" He said, "Definitely see Multnomah Falls. They are the largest falls in the world." I had great expectations. The drive out to the Falls was incredible and Blythe and I talked about Pioneers, their families, their sense of adventure. The history teacher in me loves this stuff. 

To my right I saw a series of itty bitty water falls and assumed that Multnomah Falls would be something grand indeed if this was just the tease. We parked. Blythe pointed upward to a steady stream of water and said, "That's it, right there." I burst out laughing, "Are you serious? That's IT?! Oh that's funny!" We took pictures and went into the tourist shop. There I learned that the falls are a mere 620 feet tall. Clearly, not the tallest anywhere. 

We continued onward. Blythe and I were story swapping while Sadie sang to us from her car seat. I constantly interrupted the conversation to point out a rock formation, a tall tree or to double check that the State of Washington was really just across the river?

Blythe took me to Hood River, a cutesy town tucked into the bottom-ish of Mt. Hood (I could very well have my facts mixed up here, but please trust me on Multnomah Falls). The plan for the rest of the morning was to window shop in the sunshine and find a nice outdoor deck for lunching. We executed this plan perfectly. We were ladies of leisure, even Sadie who tries to sit on every little cranny she can squeeze her diapered bottom onto.

This morning the knock came at 7:30 (oh my!) but we made it out on time. After Ada and Jonas were at school the 3 of us went to out for Breakfast. I had a chocolate scone, a banana, raspberry yogurt and a medium coffee for $4.60 - my grandpa would be proud. Sadie practiced climbing off and on the kiddie chairs. She's quite good. When breakfast was over we drove to NW 23rd St for more window shopping. It's a cute street and thankfully most of the shops were still closed. I've found that the best way for me to save money is to go window shopping when the shops are closed. You have your way, I have mine.

But then we saw a "The Polish Pottery Place" and we spent a good 36 minutes in there. So many things to touch and to exclaim over. Last summer I took a pottery class for 9 weeks and I am NO WHERE near as good as that Polish stuff. Maybe this summer?

This afternoon I took a nap, because I am on Spring Break after all. When Blythe went to gather her children, I stayed home and packed my things. I leave tomorrow morning at 9:30 a.m. Portland time and return to Holland midnight in Michigan. Yeesh. I love to be in other places, I hate the getting there.

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.

Days 1 & 2 in Portland

I arrived in Portland (a.k.a. PDX) safe and sound Thursday evening. By the time I crawled between the clean white sheets after my nice hot shower, I'd been awake for 23 hours. I was sore and tired but immediately energized in the presence of Blythe. We chatted in the kitchen and then went for a walk around the block in the middle of the night.

Friday (day) was low key. I met Blythe's husband Peter as I stumbled out of bed and asked for coffee, please? And then I met Sadie, their 18 month old, and I became the new President of the Sadie Fan Club. In the afternoon we scurried off to pick up Ada (4) and Jonas (7) from The International School where they are both enrolled in a Chinese Immersion program. We walked over to the playground and let them run around to purge their body from The Sits. Ada picked a multitude of flowers while Sadie practiced going back and forth when she took a break from going up the curb and down the curb. These things take patience and discipline for an 18 month old and Sadie is singularly focused.

Friday night Blythe and I went to Imago Dei (a church in town) to hear my friend Susan perform her book. As I mentioned a few weeks ago, I've "known" Susan these last 9 months but this was our first personal encounter. I also met Aaron Donley and Penny Carothers who also write for Burnside Writers Collective. Aaron helped me write my Christmas Letter 2008 and Penny is my editor. After the performance ended we sat huddled and waiting, sorting out what to do when Don Miller came over and introduced himself to us. One thing led to another and Don invited our party to join his party and the 10 of us went to a Wine Bar for the evening.

The Wine Bar (called Why Not?) was intimate, charming and beautiful. As Suasn said, "I felt like I was with my tribe." and I felt the same way. I sat next to Susan and we repeated (repetitiously) "It's so good to finally meet you." We processed her evening and snuggled a bit in the dark. Eventually Susan moved seats and I beckoned Penny to come and chat with me. I told her, finally face to face, how much she has influenced my life over the last 2 years and how grateful I am that she has given me The Space to Write. 

Saturday morning I went grocery shopping with Blythe and Sadie. The grocery stores in PDX are exactly what I expected. Picture a store a smidge smaller than Family Fare but fully stocked with all things from Harvest Health. Don't get me wrong, I love Meijer and it's huge wide aisles and mini-sections labeled "Healthy Living" but to walk into a store dedicated to this lifestyle is quite a site. I felt the same way when I was in Times Square for the first time in 1995. It's jaw dropping yet these Portlanders take it in the same way they take air into their body.

Susan picked me up at 2 and her husband dropped us off on Hawthorne St - a hippy neighborhood shopping district. We wandered aimlessly just learning about each other in real time. Eventually we walked a few blocks over to Belmont St. and looked for the coffee shop where we would eventually meet Penny at 4. I have to tell you that we walked by the shop at least 12.5 times and then we gave up without finding it at all. Instead, we settled into Stumptown coffee and sat outside in the sun. I told Susan my life story. Susan heard me and looked me in the eye and began to cheer lead me again. I need that.

Penny found us and walked us back to our original destination, and yes, we'd walked by this place before. There we sat under a tent and had Girl Talk like middle-aged sisters. This was turning out to be one of my favorite afternoons of all time. Again, I was with my tribe.

Six p.m. found us at The Laughing Planet where we met lots of Burnsiders for dinner (other writers connected to The Burnside Writers Collective). Initially we expected a small gathering, but it turned into a party of 20. I sat across from Susan and her agent and Penny sat beside me. To talk to Penny, like this, was a wonderful thing for me. I've "known" her for more than 2 years. We've exchanged countless emails and random phone calls. But now we had rather undivided attention to give and take. We brainstormed and told stories and talked about writing. For this part of the weekend I was a bit like Sadie, singlulary focused on writing. I wanted to take it all in, ask all my questions and maybe find a few answers. 

At one point in the conversation Susan told The Agent, "diane is a writer for Burnside" and Agent said, "Oh? Are you writing a book?" and I sheepishly said, "No, not yet. I haven't sorted out how to do that yet." Susan then proceeded to recap my life story (which I told her just a few hours prior! what timing!) to Agent. We talked about all the people I've known in my life that are a part of my network. I didn't know I had a network. I didn't know I should draw on their support. Agent looked at me and said, "diane, you are a lot farther along than you think. You are very well networked. You need to write that part into your book proposal. You need to write 3 or 4 solid chapters of your book plus an annotated outline and submit it. You can do this."

Penny and Susan agreed. Penny and Susan have been saying this for quite some time. I thought they said it because they are my friends and very nice people. I like nice people. They're nice to me. 

The evening slowly ended as people parted ways. When Susan dropped me off that night she hugged me very tightly and said, "It was so good to meet you, to hear your story and it's always good to know you. I'm going to keep talking to Agent about you."

I walked into the house and Blythe poured us each a glass of wine. We sat around the table for 2 more hours as she helped me unpack the evening. I miss Blythe a lot. This has been a good trip for me, my soul, my health, my stress and my future.