Dear Liza,
Rose Festival is here! Portland has been called The Rose City since 1888, and this city really loves the flowers. But Rose Festival is also about parades, rides, and fun.
Down by the Willamette, at Tom McCall Waterfront Park, a full carnival has been set up. Tiny rollercoasters for little kids, whirling vomit comets for teenagers, and benches for old farts like me to sit and watch.
It was fun being in the middle of all those kids, none of which were my responsibility. The joy of Not My Kid looms large.
We enjoyed all the silliness that comes with a midway…
A very macho dance contest…
Misspelled signs offering treats…
And rides too cute to believe.
But the highlight of the Midway was the tent sponsored by Quarterworld, where we found a pinball game inspired by the 1960s TV show BATMAN. It had the graphics, villains, music, and even clips from the show. It was discounted, too, with a mere quarter getting you a full game. It was classic, silly, fun.
When we had seen everything twice, we walked down the riverside for a while, enjoying the view of the Eastside from the Westside. 
Then we went in search of a glass of something…..
Love,
Grandma Judy
Dear Liza 