Every morning while walking to the light rail stop, this bank clock/temperature sign has said 44°. Regardless of how it feels or the weather that day, it has been steadfast.
I’ve been in Portland for work this past week attending an excellent conference, the 2024 ESEA National Conference. The sessions have been mostly good, the information garnered has been insightful, but the connections made or revisited have been the most important as I can reach out to those I’ve met for years to come.
As this was my first time in Portland, I did make a little time to go sightseeing after the conference day and once quickly during a lunch break. All I can say is, the motto of Keeping Portland Weird is being lived up to quite well.
Then, there was the food…
And of course, just the interesting…
And finally, I was able to add several photos of the old painted billboards on old brick buildings. So many of these great pieces of art and history are being torn down, painted over, or built upon. It has been my quest to preserve as many as I can, even if only through photos.
Oh wait, bonus! There was an awesome bookstore, Powell’s. It is the largest independent bookstore in the world with over 1,000,000 new and used books! I was the most restrained I’ve ever been in a bookstore, purchasing only three books. But, that was only because I didn’t have an extra bag to use as an additional carry-on to hold them on the way home. I spent over an hour just looking at the displays at the entrance. Since I had to leave so many books behind, I did take a few pictures of the ones I’ve never seen before and don’t anticipate will be on display at any bookstore in Indiana (that I know of anyway). Here are a few books now on my to-get wish list.
Appreciate you Portland. I feel more enriched from the food, the sights, and of course the conference. I’ll be back, hopefully with the hubby the next time. Until then Portland, keep it weird!
Personal Reflections of a Middle-Aged Man 