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Year Four, Day 126: A State of Wow!

Today I am walking around in a state of "wow!"

First of all the weather is glorious.  More people are out and about than usual. More people are smiling. We Portlanders are a bit bipolar, tied to the rapid shifts in weather, perhaps.

Secondly, I rode the Max with some ecstatic Blazers fans last night. I watched highlights of the game, especially Lillards 3 point play at the buzzer. Maybe the big grins are attributed to Blazer fever more than a rare sun sighting?

Yesterday I did not dress appropriately for my trip to Portland. Hence, I found myself shivering at the Delta Park Transit Center at 10:40 p.m. last night, huddled with two men speaking rapid Russian in a bus shelter.  I wore only leggings, sandals, a long flowing tunic and a jacket.  It was drizzling. It was dang cold!

So today I wore legging underneath jeans, a long sleeved shirt and a leather jacket.  I am warm, but happy.

I hopped off the 105 I-5 Express bus about an hour ago downtown Portland.  I grabbed a large, black cup of coffee from Starbucks. I was quite pleased to discover their new rewards system: I have 200 stars. I could get a latte, sandwich, or 4 cups of regular coffee.  Since I am drinking my coffee black these days, it suited me quite well!

As I walked beneath a glorious, clear blue sky, feeling the sun's rays radiate my scalp, I heard a lovely baritone voice singing "California Dreamin'".

I glanced in the direction of the voice. I saw an elderly man, presumable homeless. Long, unkempt gray hair and scraggly beard. He was shuffling along in tattered sneakers. Singing his heart out. Passersby were smiling.

I was smiling.

And here I am at the library, still smiling.  Not only is the weather warm, clear and darn near the perfect temperature, I am still glowing from the recollection of the last book I finished.

It is called The Member of the Wedding by Carson McCullers.  You must read this book!  I practically inhaled it. I fell in love with the main character, Frankie, a 12 year-old girl.  Her thoughts were eerily similar to my thoughts, especially when I was her age.  The author is female. Her style is called "Southern Gothic". I just put a hold on everything else she has written.

It was that good!

I still have Sanctuary by William Faulkner sitting at home in my library book bag, partially read.  I don't know if I will bring myself to finish it. After bonding with Frankie in The Member of the Wedding, I realized that I just don't like any of the characters in Sanctuary. I may give it another chance.

In the meantime, as I wait for my holds on McCullers' books to come through, I am reading about Martin Luther and the Reformation.  My interview at the Lutheran church in Vancouver is tomorrow. I am so excited! The pastor emailed me some music to prepare. It is quite challenging, but I ran through it this morning and found it quite lovely. I have always enjoyed a musical challenge!

On that note, I need to head out.   The sunshine is calling. And I have a piano student.

Happy Wednesday!

Talk to you tomorrow.

Love,

Zita




P.S. Today is Day 53 of my daily hooping. I am still doing Qi Gong daily, but don't always include it in the video.




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