Hey Fran- You gave me and my friend a lovely little card with your substack ( we were at Coava coffee both wearing the same hue of pink).
Today while cleaning my office I came across it- the business card. I had to moment of pause and joy to go and look to see if we made it to your substack. Which then lead me to spending some time reading your thoughts, exerperience and joy moments in January 2025. Sending you the best for Spring 2025 and hope that we run across paths again.
I wasn’t able to use the photo of you and your friend, sorry. It would have been for the posting called “Pink, red, vermillion.” I can’t check right now, but I hope you’ve subscribed. Each posting is different and it doesn’t cost anything unless you are moved to contribute.
I left Portland in 1978. Only learned about the Monte Carlo fire a few years ago when I was getting ready to visit a former colleague who had moved from NYC to Portland and he told me his address was at 11th & Belmont. When he told me that, I looked up the Monte Carlo online to see if was still there and read about the fire.
I loved this. Here are a couple of notes taken as I read it:
a paraphrase from your poem: We've been there before
but never in (this country). DAMN!
Love the quote from the Preamble and how your school replaced the Pledge for it each day. It reminds us what our government set out to do back then. As one Congressman said casually to another: "Well, we've had a good run." Ahem! Not so, Sir. We're still going to make it works ... even if it kills us!
I love clementines/mandrines/tangerines too. There's a brand of them here called "Cuties." Yes, indeed.
Have faith, Fran, and laugh at the Devil! He can't stand it.
Must be something in the air about the Belmont Goats. including what you write about in this issue of "Becoming." The other day a friend from Vancouver, Wash., sent me photos she found of my 21st birthday party taken in December 1973 at the Monte Carlo restaurant, which used to be at 11th and Belmont. The next day I mentioned the photos to a friend from Portland who I met for lunch during his visit to NYC. He asked if I'd ever heard about the Belmont Goats (which I hadn't) and how they once grazed in the vacant lot where the restaurant used to be. Then, that same afternoon, another Portland friend texted me a link to an article from KOIN-TV describing efforts to find a new home for the Belmont Goats. Finally, today, I read what you wrote about the goat-shaped bike racks in the goat blocks. All these references to the Belmont Goats in a span of four days!
You may remember when the Monte Carlo restaurant burned. It was in February 2002, just before I moved from Southwest Portland to an apartment on Southeast Morrison.
Another conflagration consumed the Burlingame Market at Southwest Terwilliger and Taylors Ferry. It was September 19, 2001. I remember because I left that day for my first trip to Ireland. It was days after 9/11, and armed soldiers patrolled the airports.
I agree with you totally Fran. We have been in the states for the past 6 weeks and are headed back to England tomorrow. We wanted some sunshine while we were here so we took our daughter and her husband and went to Hawaii for a week which was fabulous. I was able to rent a beach wheelchair and able to go to the beach a lot, but couldn't get in and ride the waves though which I miss. Take care and keep writing ❤️
Hey Fran- You gave me and my friend a lovely little card with your substack ( we were at Coava coffee both wearing the same hue of pink).
Today while cleaning my office I came across it- the business card. I had to moment of pause and joy to go and look to see if we made it to your substack. Which then lead me to spending some time reading your thoughts, exerperience and joy moments in January 2025. Sending you the best for Spring 2025 and hope that we run across paths again.
I wasn’t able to use the photo of you and your friend, sorry. It would have been for the posting called “Pink, red, vermillion.” I can’t check right now, but I hope you’ve subscribed. Each posting is different and it doesn’t cost anything unless you are moved to contribute.
Thanks, Fran. I enjoy your reflective comments, especially this edition, and the appropriate prayer and preamble.
I left Portland in 1978. Only learned about the Monte Carlo fire a few years ago when I was getting ready to visit a former colleague who had moved from NYC to Portland and he told me his address was at 11th & Belmont. When he told me that, I looked up the Monte Carlo online to see if was still there and read about the fire.
This was excellent, and exactly what I needed to read this morning.
Ken, I always appreciate your likes and comments.
I loved this. Here are a couple of notes taken as I read it:
a paraphrase from your poem: We've been there before
but never in (this country). DAMN!
Love the quote from the Preamble and how your school replaced the Pledge for it each day. It reminds us what our government set out to do back then. As one Congressman said casually to another: "Well, we've had a good run." Ahem! Not so, Sir. We're still going to make it works ... even if it kills us!
I love clementines/mandrines/tangerines too. There's a brand of them here called "Cuties." Yes, indeed.
Have faith, Fran, and laugh at the Devil! He can't stand it.
These bike racks give me hope ❤️
There are more bike racks in a old post, Stumbling into Procrastination, https://frangardner.substack.com/p/stumbling-into-procrastination
Must be something in the air about the Belmont Goats. including what you write about in this issue of "Becoming." The other day a friend from Vancouver, Wash., sent me photos she found of my 21st birthday party taken in December 1973 at the Monte Carlo restaurant, which used to be at 11th and Belmont. The next day I mentioned the photos to a friend from Portland who I met for lunch during his visit to NYC. He asked if I'd ever heard about the Belmont Goats (which I hadn't) and how they once grazed in the vacant lot where the restaurant used to be. Then, that same afternoon, another Portland friend texted me a link to an article from KOIN-TV describing efforts to find a new home for the Belmont Goats. Finally, today, I read what you wrote about the goat-shaped bike racks in the goat blocks. All these references to the Belmont Goats in a span of four days!
You may remember when the Monte Carlo restaurant burned. It was in February 2002, just before I moved from Southwest Portland to an apartment on Southeast Morrison.
Another conflagration consumed the Burlingame Market at Southwest Terwilliger and Taylors Ferry. It was September 19, 2001. I remember because I left that day for my first trip to Ireland. It was days after 9/11, and armed soldiers patrolled the airports.
I am now going to memorize the Preamble!
I agree with you totally Fran. We have been in the states for the past 6 weeks and are headed back to England tomorrow. We wanted some sunshine while we were here so we took our daughter and her husband and went to Hawaii for a week which was fabulous. I was able to rent a beach wheelchair and able to go to the beach a lot, but couldn't get in and ride the waves though which I miss. Take care and keep writing ❤️
I wish I could join you in England. Anywhere but here! Thanks for your good wishes.
Come to visit anytime fran