Powell's Books

Only half thinking it would be a different experience I walked into Powell's flagship store in Portland, Oregon and immediately knew it was unlike any other bookstore.

Lost in color coded rooms, it's much  more entertaining to explore them rather than asking directions. Except perhaps when you need to find the restroom, then ask for directions.

The Rose room on the first floor with light streaming thru the windows. Children are invited to just sit and read on the reading carpet. Tables and chairs just their size.

Floor to ceiling and shelf after shelf, volumes of books to escape in, travel to another world or another time.

The Gold Room has cookbooks, gardening, home repairs, music and more.

The Blue Room for Sci-Fi (my personal favorite for reading).

We all know people (including ourselves) who need help but who knew there were so many books on psychology in the Purple room.

Police procedures, murder mysteries, plot design, publishing guides, amazon marketing, character creation, it goes on and on. It was interesting to see that I already owned about five of the titles on writing.

I will make a trip back when I can spend more time browsing. The daughters and the grandchildren were patient but probably enjoyed the trip to Voodoo Donuts more than the one to
Powell's.

Bucket Lists and Zip Lines

Skamania Zip Lines - Washington

Bucket lists can include many things. It never occurred to me to put zip lining on my list and I never thought it was something I would actually do.

Peer pressure applied by grandchildren is a powerful motivator, along with the fact that the opportunity would most likely never arise again.

Hannah and Savannah, our zip line tour guides, were patient, kind and helpful to a Grandma with bad knees. It wasn't easy to climb up the steps to hook up to the line.  Let alone "zip-away" as our guides would say to each other.

"Let go of the rope" the son-in-law says.

"Easier said than done" I squeal in mid-zip.

The most difficult task was the transfer to the ground  after zipping to the first few platforms and letting go of those pesky control issues. Stepping off a perfectly good platform high above the ground and trusting that the tiny little rope would actually lower you gently to the ground. Turns out I was right, well at least half right, as I landed on my rear end instead of my feet. Fortunately, only my pride was injured but I was vindicated when the son-in-law had a similar landing. BOOM!

Seven platforms into our adventure I was able to open my eyes and at least let go of the rope with one arm for a few seconds and then we were done.

While zip lining is not for everyone, and I did enjoy the swinging bridges, however, I don't think I will repeat the experience. I'm glad I was able to finish the entire course and face some of my fears and let go just a little bit.