Oversleeping is not something I often do, mainly because I have a number of alarm clocks. Some of them are fuzzy (Jack the Dog and Mao Ping Kitty come to mind) and some of them are human-types like Michael (who is usually up by 6 a.m.) and Sarah (who has been getting up to exercise). Until this morning, this has been all I needed to arrive for appointments on time. But the combination of a comfy bed and cool, rainy weather has suddenly sent us both into hibernation mode.
Instead of the darkness before dawn, dappled sunlight woke me at 8 a.m. Leaping out of bed, we pulled ourselves together to attempt to make it back to Day Two of the Portland Sacred Harp Regional Sing on time. I shouldn't have worried.
There was no one at the registration desk but everything was ready for us. Name tags and Loaner Books were available and we claimed our seats on the back row on the aisle (so that I could record at least one song to post on Facebook. And then we waited, and waited.The Milwaukie Community Center was no hotbed of activity when we arrived and we even managed to get a parking place in the small lot next to the building. We took our lunch offering inside through the side door and we went upstairs to register.
I had a very nice conversation with the young costumer from Ashland about how she came to Sacred Harp. Turns out she is Moravian (she was shocked that I knew of the Moravians because of J. Neil Alexander, who came to the Episcopal Church from the Moravians. He was awesome on the organ, playing all the old hymns.)
But suddenly the room was filling with people and the President stood up and called the first song and the day began. No teaching today, just sing, sing, sing.
We hadn't been sure we would come back to the sing. Part of me thought we should visit the cathedral but once the chaplains started to pray the necrology and we prayed for the people on our hearts and minds, I was glad we came back. Hearing Deacon Valerie and Deacon Judy prayed for and Dolores Two Bulls and John Andrew Dunn remembered made me really happy. Then we sang a memorial song in their honor.
Sarah brought her yarns and when her voice gave out she crocheted while listening to the music. I have to pause here to relate just how awesome Sarah has been during this trip. She is my copilot and in charge of Google Maps. Because of her we were able to make it back into Portland for lunch after the singing. Great nachos.
We wandered around a little bit in the wonderful Pearl District. We stopped at this cute little shop, Just for Paws, to get presents for Jack and Mao Ping and Mab Cat. There was a dog who ran the store and in order to shop, first the customer had to throw the chew toy with him. He reminded me of Jack. He would drop the toy and then eye you and run around this big display case to the other side and wait for you to throw it. He would catch it in the air and bask in the praise. There was another dog who was the cashier. He kept his management honest with the money. It was a great shop.
Back to the hotel for a nap and then to dinner at a place called Screen Door. It was billed as "Southern comfort food with a dash of NW style." The picture of the lady I assume is a picture of the woman whose recipes are the basis for the restaurant. It's a Foodie place, after all. In a hipster neighborhood. Great food. Packed so we sat at the bar. Really noisy. But the bartenders were friendly and attentive. They explained the menu.
Lots of choices. But Sarah got the Catfish with sweet potato fries and roasted beet salad and I got fried pork chop with Mac and cheese and roasted beet salad. Really excellent. Easy to see what people are raving about. Tough to get a seat but the food is definitely worth it.
A nice last night in Portland.
Tomorrow: Driving, driving, driving through Duck Country!
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