It is done; I shall be a traveller... of sorts.
The tickets have been booked and confirmed: in March I return to what was "home" for fourteen years for a visit of a little over a week. Two days in Chicago to see friends there, and to explore the city that nearly became my new home seven months ago. Then, a week in the Quad-Cities. The timing coincides well with my former college's complicated trimester schedule; thus, I'll be able to visit professors and friends left behind with relative ease. Plus, I'll get to visit my folks (divorced, but with one in Rock Island and one in East Moline, things should roll smoothly). Hopefully, time (and the sudden appearance of an available vehicle) will also allow a brief excursion to Iowa City two visit two dear friends there.
But, that said, all this is in March! For now, Zach and I are also "planning" a trip down to Portland this weekend. Work this week has been stressful, at best; when I realized Monday is a paid holiday (thank you, Dr. King), it was pretty much said-and-done. Many Seattlites are appalled that I want to venture down to Oregon. After all, they say, "It's smaller... there's less to do!" A Seattle-wannabe? I'll be the judge of that. The point is: as one raised in "small towns," Portland will seem large to me. Portland will have plenty to keep me busy. And I need to get out of Seattle; I realized last week that I've only left the city limits within the past few months to travel to Sea-Tac Airport to receive or drop off another visitor. How can I claim to love the Pacific Northwest when the bulk of my experiences don't go far beyond King County, Washington?
Of course, one thing could delay the Portland excursion: my immune system. Sore throat and sniffles reared their ugly (respective) heads today (I treat my symptoms like a multi-headed Hydra - I have to slice off each one in its own turn). I'm hoping it's just an "isolated" incident - especially since the hotel room in downtown Portland is already booked under my credit card. Zach, understanding as ever, towed over steaming bowls of Pho Ga (Hydras, I hear, are vulnerable to an effective immune response and chicken soup). Hopefully, this is all just an attack of mild hypochondria.
Posted by James at January 15, 2004 08:47 PM