Too Soon

 I thought it would be fun to come up to Portland to visit with my old U of U friend Alexis when she went to the Western States Communication Association convention.

It hasn't been.  

It's been good seeing friends, but I found that all the fresh-faced youngsters in their ill-fitting suits to be discomfitting and maddening.  Seven years as a dementia carer has made the academic race seem like a bunch of bullshit.  I found myself getting angry at the desperation of the young and ennui of the old farts.  I know that I'm only assuming those emotions -- they're my projections.  But I couldn't stop wanting to tell them, like Qoheleth, that all is vanity of vanities.

Nevertheless, it was good to hang out with my friend and her teenage daughter and tell her the story of how my friendship with one of our major professors terminated.

I also saw my wonderful poet friend Judy yesterday and had a fine lunch of homemade Swedish meatballs.  Today I'll see friend Kathy and then, instead of going home over the pass, I'll go back to Eugene because the passes are pretty much closed.  This vacation may be longer than expected.  I may need to call the folks coming on Tuesday to do measuring to back off.

It's been a bit of a challenge traveling with the little dog.  He doesn't eat when he's supposed to and his presence isn't desired in all settings that I would visit.  Nevertheless, he was very good at staying in the car yesterday while I went to see the wonderful Frida Kahlo Exhibit at the Portland Art Museum.  Sadly, yesterday was the opening and the galleries were packed so I didn't bother to read every panel or stare intently at every photograph and painting.  I think what I liked the best were paintings by other Mexican modernists because I hadn't seen any of them before.