Tag: Life in Portland

Doing Things for the First Time

Dear Liza,

Walking in the neighborhood last evening, noticed this new sticker on a very well-stickered sign, and it got me thinking.


Retirement is usually seen as not only a chance to stop working, but also to start doing other things. And THAT is the sticky part. What to do?

One of the reasons I’m glad we moved to Portland after I retired is so that I was in a different place to start my different life. Transplanted, so to speak, into bigger pot. If I had stayed in Salinas, I might have felt the need to substitute teach, work at the same volunteer spaces, to do the comfortable, familiar things.

Being in a new place required me to learn new ways to get around (I gave up driving when we moved, so my mass transit IQ has gone up).

I also got to meet new people, which was becoming harder in small Salinas.

With you living abroad, me learning a new language made sense, and needing to get across town to do it and meeting a whole new community is a new thing.


And ART! I don’t know if I would have thought to do art in Salinas… it wasn’t who I WAS there. But away from my home roots, it felt natural.

Doing things for the first time is easier in a new place. Even when it feels a little scary.

So I’m off to do some more.

Love,

Grandma Judy

Inside and Outside 2021, Part 1

Dear Liza,

Looking back on 2021, I’ve decided to have a look inside the house and outin the world each month.

January 2021 saw us celebrating by making hats from salvaged Christmas wrapping paper.


Outside, we visited Cannon Beach and felt the sea breeze on our faces.



February found me adding a few bridges and neighborhoods to my Portland map.


Outside, snowfall made our front patio a magical place.


In March, I made my very first mince tarts.

Outside, the ground was warm enough to start working in the garden!




April saw all the Grandkids on a Zoom call for Liza’s 8th birthday. Filters are fun!

And outside, the first seedlings of my radishes came up!


May saw flowers exploding all over Portland, like this iris in a local bioswale.

Looking back, I can’t find a single photo taken inside in May. But here’s a nice picture of my favorite people at Edgefield for Grandpa Nelson’s birthday.


In June, the weather was warm, but the Covid was still with us. Home activities included my learning a new quilting style, Kawandi.

While outside, I spent my Momma’s birthday at The Grotto, which she would have loved.

And tomorrow we will finish the year and get ready to look forward.

Love,

Grandma Judy