Scrolling though the Summer ABCs

Summer was a self-designed situation this year. While we learned a lot about living and working in Thailand over the past year and a half, one thing that became very apparent is that the public school system is very lean on holidays and the directors of the little kingdoms like to keep those holidays very sneaky and short. While that suits many expats, it is not to our liking, because we have too many people we like to see around the world. Thus, we decided to take a semester off, try our chances around the world, and have a return ticket to Thailand if needed. Thus, we jumped into summer travels with zeal and felt the next thing would sort itself in due time.

We ran through summer, which is our style. 

We walked in six states, one which was my 50th to visit.

We visited one country.

We took seven plane rides, one which was 16 hours and a few minutes.

We caught an official case of Covid. 

We took one bus trip.

I got one really, really bad haircut.

We celebrated a lot and did all we could to fill our days and souls to capacity.

So, here is the grand overview of our summer. 

Alaska

It seemed to be the gold rush in travel form; it was the destination of the year for the Americans. We were swept into the frenzy thanks to our parents - and it was a miserably delightful seven days. The weather was soggy but the adventurous spirits were high - so we took on Ketchikan, Juneau, and Skagway with gusto. From kayaks to totem poles to whale watching to train rides, we saw Alaska in all its weather moodiness. In between the big moments were the laughter, discussions, savored dinners, walks around the deck, gorgeous balcony views, and room service breakfasts. It was such a special trip, and I am eager to return to Alaska's wilds.    

Birthday Celebrations

It was a summer of great birthday celebrations in-person and on Zoom. We definitely had some monumental birthdays which signified a change of a decade for some of our dearest.

Comic-Con

Zach desperately wanted to spend three days running amok with the costumed and non-costumed geeks and nerds of the world. With bonus weeks added to our summer, he got his wish to attend Rose City Comic-Con. It was fun to hear his experiences of the day each evening, the surprises and the disappointments. He walked away with a few mementos of this convention.

Dinolandia

Quirky art style meeting prehistoric creatures exceeded my expectations for a fun afternoon outing. The exhibit was massive, immersive, educational, and silly in all the right ways. 

Educational Upgrades

Before we left Thailand, Zach had begun the process of obtaining his football (soccer) coaching certificates. He did all he could online so when we arrived in Portland he could complete the in-person portion. Thus, he spent a couple of days in class/on the pitch, then had a few weeks of shadowing coaches of a local club, which he loved. 

As for me, I wanted to re-up my lifeguard certification. Luckily, the Jewish Community Center near us was having a class. It was a very physical three days, but it was great to be challenged in a way I have not been in a while. There was a lot of laughter, a fair amount of cussing, and a few frustrating moments, but in the end, no one drowned. 

Footgolf

There were definitely a few moments this summer when time felt very tangible; the afternoon we played footgolf was one such moment. The last time had been with two much smaller children who took much smaller kicks. This venture was a wee more competitive and a bit more in tune with the actual sport. It was so enjoyable, especially with the squawks of success and the angsty cries of ridiculous roughs.

Giants in Kentucky

I stumbled across the giants of Kentucky by accident. I had been reading a magazine that included an advertisement for Travel Kentucky which pictured glamping igloos. I was baffled by their location, so I started searching. I never found the fancy igloos, but I did find the Bernheim Arboretum Forest Giants. Months later, we found them in a post-covid excursion. They are wonderful and the setting worthy of further exploration.

Hikes: 4T Trail, Latourell Falls, Punch Bowl Falls 

Hiking in the Northwest is absolute bliss, and this summer we traversed one new trail and a couple of repeats. As we concocted our summer bucket list, I added the 4T Trail. One that I have wanted to do but have never done, thus I was determined to make it so this year. One beautiful day, we coaxed Josiah to join, and we did it all - trail, tram, trolley, train. It was fantastic - though we abruptly learned the tram is definitely no longer free on going down the hill. Ugh. 

In the very beginning of the summer, we took the Tran cousins to the wilds of the Gorge for Latourell Falls. These city lasses enjoyed a good dose of the outdoors, though Matilda had us in stitches with her continual fascination of the drain pipes. 

I returned home after my final day of lifeguard training to be told I was joining a hiking adventure the next day. I thought it to be a simple stroll...which was not the case. Oh, there was definitely strolling, but a lot of bouldering as well. It had been a number of years between Punchbowl Falls hikes; it being in the path of the devastating forest fires a handful of years ago kept it off the list. So, I was definitely hazy on its path and difficulty level. Nonetheless, it was a spectacular day - a brutal way to ease achy muscles, but fantastic to see two kids nimbly jaunt from rock to log to rock while Nancy and I assessed all the options.  

Ice Tea, Hootenanny, Doodlebugging: Dahlia Festival

The last time we had been to this festival was pre-expat days. As we strolled through the blooms, we reminisced about our year of festivals and even recalled the last time we had been in the same field. As always, the dahlia display did not disappoint, and I wanted to buy every single one. 

Julia Child is my Favorite: Rose Garden

This is an annual pilgrimage. The crew differs each time, but the roses remain the glorious constant. Our crew was very photographic this year, which made for a beautiful camera roll to sort through at the end of the summer. 

Kaden: Then and Now

Zach and I repeatedly say that the passage of time is always shown through the children in our life, and this summer showcased a great leap in height, maturity, and sass. We loved it! Thus, we could not pass up the opportunity to create some then-now photos. A great example:  

In 2010...

Now in 2022.....

The now is exactly why the fleet has expanded to include two paddleboards. Gerty is amazing, but she definitely does not expand to accommodate growing children. However, I do believe my life vest was a very sound investment. 

Lansu Garden

We made use of the cultural passes available through the library this summer. Our afternoon spent meandering Chinese architecture was calming; a beautiful reminder that though life moves on, China will always be a part of who we are.  

Mid-Autumn Festival

We joined the masses to celebrate our favorite Asian holiday. Lion dances, mooncakes, dumplings, lanterns, dear friends, and a stunning full moon were the perfect combination for the holiday. 

New Quilts and a Quilt Guild

After heaps of snuggles, washes, journeys, and nibbles by a dog (for one), some quilts needed replacing. One was created and finished on two continents, while the other one was nearly two years in the making. Upon writing this post, I realized I did not get a finished picture of either. Addysen swaddled in hers upon completion is the only snapshot.

However, I do have pictures of the quilt block exhibit we visited in Powell's early in the summer. I had no idea that Portland had a miniature quilt block guild. Their work was an inspiration.

Oh, the dumplings: Dough Zone

We finally found a place that satisfies the Chinese food craving. Luckily, we found it late in our summer or we would have spent a lot more money and time eating there. Even then, we went twice in two weeks. Once by ourselves....

...the second to celebrate Mid-Autumn with dear friends. 

Powell's Author Reading + PDX Artist Fair 

We never make it to as many as we want, but when the right author and a free night coincide - it is magical. The highlight this summer was meeting Kevin Hearne. He is the author of the Iron Druid/Ink & Sigil series, as well as one Star Wars book. I devoured his series over the past two years - laughing out a loud a lot and writing down many quotes. Zach had the Star Wars book in a tote. So, Team Druid and Team Star Wars joined forces for a great night listening to what is to come in book form, chatting with fellow fans, and getting a nice diatribe about all the things that should be written in a Star Wars book. 

Weeks earlier, Zach's shock was very evident when I asked if we could go to a comic book shop. I confessed that it was not to buy comics, but rather to meet one of my absolute favorite Instagram comic artists. Of course, he agreed. Hence, a sunny afternoon was spent chatting with Jackie of Underpants and Overbites. She drew me an elephant! *swoon*  

Qatar

This was the layover that kicked off our summer jaunts. It was an amazing three days. However, I think I will save the stories for during the World Cup - which starts in less than a month! Woo hoo! 

Rooms of Art: Hallie Ford Museum of Art, Portland Art Museum, Pittock Mansion

We took in all the art we could, especially since all were free! We accidentally showed up on a free day at the Hallie Ford Museum of Art, an absolute hidden gem in Salem. The Pittock Mansion was a cultural pass from the library, and the Portland Art Museum was part of the Smithsonian nationwide free day. All three were so well curated and fascinating to meander. 

Star Wars and Waterfront Symphony

The Waterfront Symphony was an annual to-do before moving to China. This year, Addysen, Zach and I plopped ourselves on the waterfront, armed with a picnic, and cozied in for a wonderful evening of music. 

A couple weeks later, Joel surprised us with tickets to the Star Wars Symphony. These movie/orchestra collaborations are sublime. I truly cannot recommend them enough for they are such a treat. 

Taste Test: Chocolate Chip Cookies

The annual taste test subject was chocolate chip cookies. We are happy to report that Baker and Spice, a local bakery, took first prize. We would also like to report that eating a Subway cookie away from a Subway establishment is a poor choice; we had no idea that it tastes like stale bread away from its habitat. 

Unique Visit: Mary Todd House + Timbers Practice

On the day Zach went to work with his dad in Kentucky, Susan and I went to the Mary Todd House in downtown Lexington. I apparently took no pictures of this venture (imagine two story brick home), but I can say that I have been to the first museum dedicated to a First Lady. It was interesting, especially as one of the guides was extremely personable and loved to toss up tidbits that were not mentioned in the placards. 

A few weeks later, Zach and Kaden won the chance to go to a Timbers practice and browse around the facilities. They met players and coaches and geeked out on all things football. 

Very Stinky Situation: Corpse Flower

A truly once in a lifetime type moment beckoned from a uni campus in Vancouver, WA. Our friend, Jason, is employed at the uni which is why we were alerted to the blooming of the corpse flower. 

The flower is native to Indonesia, a beast of a plant which can bloom only once in a lifetime or flower every 7-10 years in the right habitat. When it does bloom, it emits an extreme rotten smell to attract pollinators. It truly is a fascinating specimen; even more so when the professor, who instigated the journey of this particular one, sat beside the giant and regaled the viewers with tales of how he started it in a pot on his desk seventeen years ago, "splashing some miracle grow on it every week or so."

Water Adventures

It goes without saying that water is always an integral part of our summer, swimming or boating. These days are always my favorite, especially since I have great crewmates on each journey. 

Xtra Life Treats: Reunions

No summer is complete without a load of reunions and this year included a handful of unexpected ones and ones that did not come to fruition (dang Covid!). The unexpected were a pool day with a Kentucky friend and his daughter (which happened to be her birthday, and she was living her best life with a surprise pool party), and an evening with a beloved coworker from our GDOU days. We love our people and each hug is absolutely dear to us. 

Yelling at So Many Games

Oh, we got to go to so many football games this summer. From Louisville to Portland, men and women, we sang and clapped for victory until we were hoarse, weary, and covered in beer. 

A bonus to the year, was getting to see Kaden begin his high school career. I will not lie, when he ran onto the field his first game, tears sprang to my eyes. How was it that the tiny boy we used to hold on our knees in the Timbers Army was now running plays wearing a high school jersey?!? It was incredible. 

PS: The photo was taken by another parent and Zach photoshopped the wings to enhance Kaden's flying ability. I had to use it. 

Zinger of a Life Entrance: Paxton

I joked with mom that my sister would go into labor the day I left Kentucky. Mom chuckled and waved my jests aside, saying that Jennie would likely go into labor early, but not that early. Nonetheless, Zach and I purchased moveable tickets just in case the nephew-to-come would appear before our departure date. The day of our departure, on the way to the airport, I sent messages asking if everything was OK, no big news. All answers were a no. 

We boarded our plane. 

We arrived in Chicago with messages saying Jennie was in labor.

By the time we landed in Portland, Paxton had made his entrance into the world.

Welcome to the world, little guy - your birth is quite memorable and one day we will laugh about it together.    

Shelved Stories: The Asian Art of Drying Things

I was recently reading a book which involved the concocting of poultices and odd brewings, all handled within a bits-n-bobs filled workshop nook. In conjuring the mental picture as I read, I had the realization that what I imagine now is greatly influenced by my Asian life. 

In China, the art of drying was everywhere. Rice in the temple courtyards and on the shoulders of roadways. Pungent fish on bamboo mats. Flowers spread over a newspaper. It was so common that if I did not see something, anything drying outside a door or window or on a balcony, I wondered what was wrong. 

I wandered markets in hopes of identifying at least one object in the medicinal area; I rarely succeeded. The shriveled roots and squashed leaves were beyond my knowledge and my Chinese vocabulary was not up to the task of uncovering it. I smelled a lot of interestingly shaped things and I was tsked-tsked away from some fascinating specimens by observant shopkeepers. Though, there were a handful of shopkeepers over the years who tried to convey their wares, utilizing translation software only to be thwarted when there was not an English word or phrase for the object. Laughter usually erupted in those moments.

In Thailand, the art of drying things is not as prevalent, but it can still be found. It is usually in smaller quantities and near the homes of elders. Plastic bins are the common receptacles. The things being dried are not as mysterious, though a few I have spotted have caused me to investigate a bit closer. 

I have realized that each culture has its own way of preservation, such as pickling, canning, and freezing. For parts of Asia, drying is the go-to method - one that sparks my curiosity and inspires my images of apothecary havens in my reading. 

Shelved Story: Chiang Rai Ban Mueng Ngim Christian Cemetery

Early in our days of moving to Chiang Rai, we struck out on bikes one afternoon to see where a road would take us. It meandered eastward along the Kok River, through rice fields and farmlands dotted by small clusters of businesses and homes. Tucked between a rice field and a banana plantation, we found a cemetery. 

With Thailand being a predominantly Buddhist country, cemeteries are actually few for cremation is chosen over burial. The crematoriums are usually sidled alongside wats or plopped in a rather desolate plot of land; both are usually surrounded by miniature stupas which hold a person's ashes. These are usually very ornate and blingy, some with a picture of the deceased displayed.

The cemeteries tend to be for the Christian communities or foreigners in the area, which is what we stumbled upon that day. Sadly, it was a place that was in desperate need of a Tomb Sweeping style holiday for it was a grassy-weedy jungle. The stroll was more akin with a bushwhacking expedition to some ancient ruin. Nonetheless, before the mosquitos realized that fresh blood was in the area, we had a good look around the space. 

We saw the stages of grave spots - dug, covered, decorated. 

Though the Christian cemetery was not as blingy as wat stupas, the finished grave, for most, was a tiled creation. Varying color schemes could be found; some simple with one-tone tiles, others bearing designs created by alternating tile colors. It did make me wonder if the local bathroom tile installers had a side hustle of grave coverer.

The children's section of the graveyard was very evident. The tiles chosen were colorful and whimsical. 

While burying a child is something no parent should do, I did find it comforting to think a child was decorated with care to reflect their age and, perhaps, their playful antics. 

It was also interesting to see the blend of cultural beliefs - buried with offerings of cake and red Fanta spotted on a few of the plots. 

While I would have liked a bit longer to stroll, the mosquitos were fierce and the afternoon shower was threatening. We left the mosquitos, but the deluge found us before we could find cover. It was a spectacular day.

Many months later, we happened to be on this road again in search of a ruin or two. I was happy to notice, as we motorbiked past, that some love and care and been given and it was no longer a wild jungle. 

Shelved Story: Chiang Mai Foreigner Cemetery

To those who know me well, know that I love a good romp through a cemetery. Thus, when we discovered a connection to a resident in a Chiang Mai cemetery, it was a must do during our visit. 

It was a glorious day to cemetery stroll. The Chiang Mai Foreigner Cemetery actually has a decently organized website with headstone pictures, so we were on the hunt for a white cross upon entering. What we assumed would be an easy task quickly become a methodical hunt because, in a quick sweep of the plots, there was no white cross to be seen. My mind veered towards the scenarios of grave robbing or reselling plots. I was already formulating how to broach the subject with our friends. The "hi, we went to find your brother's plot but he seems to be missing...." storyline. My imaginary discussion branches were being well developed mentally until Zach yelled, "Hey, I found him!" I gave an audible sigh of relief. 

It must be noted that Zach pulled out the original picture and hunted based on landscape clues when no simple cross of any color could be found. Thankfully, there was a nearby tree. 

After we spent some time with Rowland, it was time to investigate his neighbors. 

A fair bit of history was enclosed within these hallowed grounds. There were location spellings long not used, kingdoms long collapsed, and even historical moments swept aside in favor of the larger narrative of a time. 

 Mr. Bongers won the longest name award. 

This chap and I share the same birthday - something I always look for in a cemetery meander. 

Ah, then the the delightfully odd sentiments etched in stone. I personally like the irregular life lived to the full - a sentiment I would gladly have spoken about me when the time comes. However, a WWII captain to a movie star is a fascinating leap of career.

 

This chap seemed to be determined that his career be his memory; a headstone that fits a few engineer stereotypes. 

Though Mr. Jeffers won the CV headstone award. I do wonder if someone he knew strolled in at any point, did a read-through, then scoffed at a few of the attributes. 

I pondered this Asian Legend for a bit for there are so many follow-up questions to such a declaration.  

This headstone needed a side dedicated to explaining how one becomes associated with sausage, so much so that for years to come all who walk past will remember it. 

It was not shocking to see the slew of buried missionaries in an area usually called missionary mecca. Thailand is synonymous with the religions, so much so that one time in China we were asked by a Chinese if we were missionaries because we were going to Thailand during the holiday. Puzzled, we asked why he thought that and he responded, "All the missionaries I know go to Thailand during the holidays for meetings." Oops, so much for cover. Thus, in a foreign cemetery located in northern Thailand, a fair number of headstones had Christian catchphrases and Bible versus. 

And no cemetery is complete without a few scandals. It seems poor Mathew got offed outside a convenience store. 

Nature took baby Oliver.

And I have a few suspicions as to why a forest manager was killed in these days. 

A few plots later, it became apparent that being the Forest Manager was a harsh position for life expectancy. 

We also took a moment to pay our respects to Queen Victoria. Her journey to this part of the world was to hang out in front of the British Consulate, but eventually got shifted to oversea the dead. Which actually is quite fitting since this cemetery is actually the only plot of Thai land to be directly deeded to foreigners. Over the past few years, the board of directors have had to go to court to battle encroaching by locals and the very old documents have held up under the scrutiny of the local law.  

Ambling among headstones is always a reminder that while life is full of so much, it does end for all - wherever we may be. Therefore, I absolutely loved this epitaph: Laid to rest in the land he loved and chose to call home. For so many of us, our motherland is not always where we feel most comfortable and content. We find homes wherever we may go, so Mr. Preddy's final thought was a most poignant expat thought.