Beast

Yes, this photo is of me ... 1959. The first day I rode my bicycle "solo." What a great memory. This photo was taken in front of our home. We lived on 30th near Killingsworth with a mix of homes and businesses. It was a fun place to grow up. Such a busy place with buses and pedestrians passing by -- a lot of activity! In the picture you will notice a Coast to Coast Hardware store, a small barber shop and a market on the corner.
Back in July we planned a birthday dinner date with the Dehazes and Auxiers to dine at Beast in my old neighborhood. My, how things have changed on the block I grew up on!
Beast is owned by Chef Naomi Pomeroy, who competed on Top Chef last spring. The dining room is very simple with chalkboard walls and communal dining tables. It is a very cozy, intimate dining experience while watching the chefs in action as your 6-course French cuisine meal is prepared. There is a fixed menu that changes weekly -- but substitutions are politely declined! Fortunately, our menu included Grass Fed Carmen Ranch New York Strip Loin ... from Wallowa : ) It was wonderful!!
I have included the menu from our visit to show you the foods we enjoyed and the wine pairings.
Each course was delicious and the portions were just the right size.
I will honestly tell you ... this is a pricey dining experience. Bring your VISA Gold (LOL) but you also must factor in the atmosphere, the kitchen experience, the delicious food ... and the wonderful company of great friends!
For me it was more than just dining and celebrating ... it was an opportunity to see my childhood neighborhood transformed into a trendy, upscale, happening place. Fifty years ago ... who would have thought?!?!?
Happy Birthday Donna! It was fun celebrating YOU.

Memories In Music

Have you ever been out shopping and while contemplating a purchase, overhead music fills the room and your mind ... triggering a memory from the past? That is exactly what happened while shopping Saturday afternoon.
The song, "Stayin' Alive" (BeeGees) from Saturday Night Fever filled the air and I was instantly transported back to my 10-year class reunion. For many attending the "blast from the past" it was the first time our class had been together since graduation. I remember the live music was so loud you couldn't carry on a conversation. Many escaped to the hallways to catch up with old friends and classmates. I sat down at a table with some friends ... wearing heels was not a common practice and my feet were killing me. Walt was out in the hallway ... talking.
I wasn't paying too much attention because I didn't ever really know the guy ... but in walks a John Travolta clone a.k.a Jerry. Yes ... white pants, shirt unbuttoned ... classic 80's disco. He entered the room as if his presence made the party just begin. I had my back to him so I didn't see it coming ... he grabs my hand and whips me out on the dance floor ... those heels could hardly keep up. I was in shock and discovered we were the only ones on the dance floor. YIKES! I remember Chris Myers laughing hysterically and grabbing Walt from the hallway. Cameras were flashing ... one of life's embarrassing moments.
It's funny how one song can trigger so many memories. Have you ever listened to a song that brought you right back to a memory in your past? I would love to hear your stories!

Re-Connecting

As Calleigh gets older, sometimes a memory is triggered while we are playing together. I'm not sure what takes me back to the late fifties but I think it's her hair, skin and eye color that remind me of my childhood friend, Debi.
Debi lived across the street from my daycare provider and we met as toddlers. I remember playing together at her house or mine. We both loved dolls as you can see by the picture -- it was taken in my bedroom. What an awesome "girlie" room I had : )
The school years can change routines and friendships and Debi was a year behind me in school. She attended a neighboring grade school even though we only lived about 4 blocks apart. When the school district changed the boundaries in the mid-sixties she was transferred to my school. We crossed paths again in high school and she married one of Walt's best friends. We share much history together and even though we haven't seen each other ... (except at a memorial service for Marie, my daycare provider) ... I still think of her often.
The memories of Debi became so strong after Christmas that I had to locate her. I found her email address and contacted her a month ago. It was so nice to get a response and hear about her family and her life. Do you have someone that comes to mind often? Follow the prompting and get in touch. I'm so glad I did!

Down Memory Lane

As I had hoped, I have been organizing a few closets and drawers during the Spring Break. Since it is such a dreary day, it is the perfect Saturday project. It's taking a little longer than I thought because I keep coming across sentimental things. My motivation to complete this project is a movie date with Walt this weekend.
As I have been scanning old pictures and documents, I found this photo from 1959-60. My friends, Sue Waterman and Debbie Pulioff came over to play Barbies and my mom clicked a quick photo in our front yard in northeast Portland. Good memories ... Barbie was extremely popular during that time ... AND still is around our house. Maybe in the future I'll feature my collection with a "Blogger Tour of Barbies." I bet you can't wait : )

Kennedy Gals

Since the Kennedy 40th Grade School Reunion nearly two years ago, the four of us have been trying to reunite more often. We have met for lunch at various restaurants in town but Lora graciously opened her home Saturday for our latest get together.
We never lack for conversation ... there are always childhood memories to discuss, where life has taken us over the years, what we are doing in this season of life, etc.
Last year we read the book, The Glass Castle and met together to discuss it. If you haven't read it yet, I highly recommend it.
I am so thankful to have these friends in my life. The are so encouraging, share great ideas and we always seem to include some laughter. I am already looking forward to our next gathering!

Photo-a-Day December 29

O.K. ... so while I was in the photo drawer I found another old picture. I'm guessing I'm about two years old. For some reason this photo always triggers a deep memory ...

• a warm day
• sitting on a table with a tiled top for a photo shoot
• my bedroom is being painted

... of course, I would have been too young to recall that at this age, so perhaps it's connected to some other photo event in my younger years.
It's amazing at this age what you can recall ... AND what you can't remember in the present day! hahaha

Photo-a-Day December 28

I was going through my photo drawer yesterday and found this picture. I believe it was taken in the late 50's ... now I am dating myself! We are posed in the living room at my grandparent's house during a Christmas family gathering.
Notice the icicles hanging from the tree. Many trees were decorated like this in that era. You had to put each strand of "rain" on the branches. It took hours and patience to decorate the tree in this fashion. The older I got the more I wanted to just throw it on the tree and be done with it. Do they even sell this stuff these days? I'm glad that fad is long in the past! Although, the tree does look very pretty in this picture. This must have been prior to the aluminum tree and color wheel I mentioned in an earlier post.
What a "blast from the past" ...

Photo-a-Day December 8

A few weeks ago one of Walt's co-workers, who lives in our childhood neighborhood, told him that every house on the block Walt grew up on was gone. Concordia finally expanded their campus on the west side of 27th and moved every house located across the street from the gym.
Fortunately, in June the Faubion Reunion Crew drove around the neighborhood taking pictures of each person's childhood home so we have one last picture of Walt and the home he grew up in.
Sunday Matte joined us and we drove over to see for ourselves. It was very sad to see empty lot after empty lot. So many memories came to mind. We did find the houses stored a few blocks away and I believe they have plans to move them to a permanent address. There's just something about the Family Home ... it's very sad to see her gone!
Click on the photo to enlarge it for a better view.

Photo-a-Day December 7

What would Christmas be without a visit to Santa??? ... sitting on his lap, having a photo taken, and letting him know just what special toy you would like him to bring you.
From the picture you can tell this was taken in the late 50's. We visited Santa at Lipman's Department store, also famous for the Cinnamon Bear. I remember -way back then- that a visit downtown required that you dress in your Sunday best and as you can see I even brought a purse. There was so much to see and experience downtown ... windows dressed with magical holiday themes, riding an elevator with an attendant calling out each floor, stores decked out in tinsel and bright colors, and finally a bus ride home.
On this particular visit I seem a bit timid but engaging in conversation -- unlike some photos I've seen where I am at a younger age -- tears are falling and I look a afraid : )
I hope you'll share your favorite Santa visit ...

Photo-a-Day December 1

Sprague Labs (a blog I subscribe to) declared it's "Photo-a-Day in December" starting today! I enjoyed this in May and others have shared that it was fun to check in each day to see the "Photo-of-the Day."
My first picture is a Christmas memory from the past ... DECADES ago ... WAY back to my childhood -- do you remember Christmas bubble lights?!?!?!?

I can remember going to Grandma & Grandpa Smith's house to celebrate Christmas. They had an aluminum tree that was placed on a coffee table with a color wheel splashing bright colors on its shiny limbs. I remember how fascinating it was to watch the bubble lights and all the color in the room. Below the table were gifts wrapped in festive papers just waiting to be opened. To a small child this all seemed "magical" and exciting. It was a fun time to be with the family -- good memories.
As we were decorating our tree this year, we found a bubble light set in our ornament box that we had purchased in our early years of marriage. We probably bought them because they represented good memories and we wanted to share them with our children. Saturday we plugged them in and they still work ... bright and bubbly as the memories I have stored from the past.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas around our house!

Reunion Weekend

What a busy weekend of REUNITING ...
Saturday I was able to stop by the annual Englewood reunion at the Spaulding's for a few hours before heading over to the Irvington Tennis Club for the long-awaited Faubion 40th. The planning team put together a fun evening for classmates to share and reconnect.
When you entered the door you were warmly greeted and asked to pose by the 8 x 8 foot picture of the front door to the school taken by "Fran the Photographer" -- it kind of had that "cruise" feeling -- you knew a special evening was ahead. The dinner was catered by The Original Taco House -- an East Portland favorite we all remember.
After much trivia, including a "Who lived in this house?" powerpoint presentation featuring many childhood homes, time was well spent sharing about each classmate. Since their class had a band back then, it was only fitting to have live music from that era to end our evening.
For those who wanted more time to unwind, we met over at McMenamin's to continue the "party." I believe it was close to 2:30 a.m. before we got to sleep ... but we'll catch up ... it's not very often you have an opportunity reconnect with old friends and classmates. Even though I didn't attend this school I knew many there from the neighborhood and high school. What a great group of lifetime friends ... what a rich history they share!

Credits:
Font: American Typewriter, CK Ali's Writing
Elements: Misty Cato -Tabbed #10
Paper: Sylvia Laupitz/PC Scrapbooking-Fotosusu, Colorfuldays Paper Freebie
Template: Digital Crea -ABCDelf Template 48
Brushes: Scrappincop -Bracket Journal 2470; MCO Handstamped Alpha

Memories ...

Even though I had a lengthly "to-do" list I tagged along with Walt Wednesday in joining his grade school classmates. We had a 2:00 pm appointment to tour his grade school and then dinner at Kennedy McMenamins for a Faubion 40-year reunion planning meeting.
Since we both grew up in the same area but went to different neighboring elementary schools -- and a year apart -- it was fun to share in their joy and memories.
One fun event was driving around the neighborhood and trying to remember where former classmates lived and taking pictures of the houses the planning team grew up in. I think we took nearly 250 pictures of the school and neighborhood.
It was so nice to be on summer break to share in such fun activities.

Reply to JP ... yes, they did make it down the slide : ) I caught them on camera ...

17,000 Days Ago

Over 17,000 days ago this picture was taken by my friend, Janet's mom. We are sitting in front of the flagpole at Kennedy Grade School where we attended school in NE Portland. It was 1961 and we were almost ready to start third grade. I believe it was about this time that Janet moved to Alaska. Perhaps this was taken before saying "goodbye" ... but I can't seem to remember.
Janet's mom gave this print to Kennedy McMenamins and it is hanging in the entryway near the main office. Even though they have transformed our old school ... the flagpole is still out front and much of the school's character has been restored. Such good memories ... nice remembering those who have been a part of my "history." Good to see this picture each time we visit McMenamins.
I was able to calculate the days by going to www.timeanddate.com using the duration calculator. It's amazing to consider 17,000 days ago ...

Cinderella

As a preschooler, my parents gave me a Cinderella watch ... and 50 years later it's still ticking : ) This gave me the idea to collect Cinderella keepsakes over the years.

One night we put my watch on Calleigh's arm and let her model it. I don't know how impressed she was with the watch but she definitely liked the Cinderella figurine ...