Sacred Harp Portland Sing

Excited to see what this day will bring, we wake up early and get ourselves together to head out to Milwaukie for the first day of the Portland Sacred Harp Regional Sing. First we have to make our way through breakfast with the St. Olaf's College orchestra (made me think of Betty White's Golden Girl character and her incessant reminiscing about her days at St. Olaf's). They were a pretty boisterous bunch for an orchestra. Maybe it's because they are expected to listen so intently in order to play their part.

One of the aspects of Sacred Harp I love so much is the potluck lunch. We make for the Safeway to get something to share. I know it would be rude to show up with nothing (even though I intend to make a good donation of money toward the cause.

It turned out to be pretty easy to find. This sing is in the Milwaukie Community Center, just a few miles away. There is a square dance club that meets here regularly (can you tell?) so there are multiple signs pleading for care of the wood floor. No food or drink allowed (eating takes place downstairs), but water in enclosed containers is okay.

The first thing that happens after everybody gathers and signs in, is a business meeting. Very short. New slate of officers elected for the year. And the first hymn is sung. Then the chaplain says a prayer (everybody standing) and the new president sets the ground rules for the sing.

My favorite thing about this space is the disco ball. Illumination and inspiration for singing about being washed in the blood of the Lamb.

When I was introduced to Sacred Harp, my friend described it as "church for singers." It is an odd community. We were asked how many of us grew up in the tradition. Two hands went up. It's Portland, not Atlanta.

Today's sing invited a guest teacher to talk about the ins and outs of leading. She is from Alabama and gets misty eyed about how inclusive Sacred Harp communities are.

There is no conductor. The leader is invited to lead one hymn of his or her choice after which he/she gives over the center to the next leader. The leader calls out the song number and someone (it doesn't have to be the leader) sets the pitches.

It's a bit chaotic in the beginning with people coming in and finding their place. While we are waiting to begin, we meet a young woman from the costume department at Ashland (turns it she is from North Carolina).

 

I love Sacred Harp because it is egalitarian. What few rules there are make sense and are generally followed. Mistakes are tolerated with a minimum of ridicule. No matter where you come from, you are welcome. No one has to lead, but everyone is invited.

Usually the sing is broken into blocks of singing, a short break, sing again, lunch, and then another couple of sessions with a prayer at the end. I have never gotten to attend the Sunday session because I have always had to work. Los Angeles sing is in San Pedro at Angel's Gate. It's worth going to.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lunch is always beyond good. The afternoon sessions can be a bit laborious after eating too much at the potluck.

After we sang. Pie! Yep. Pacific Pie. I have been dreaming about these tarts. And the peanut butter pie was excellent, too. But these Salted Caramel Chocolate Tarts have claimed my heart. Wow.

Ready for a nap (and maybe a little football).

Tomorrow: Portland Sacred Harp Regional Sing Day Two and a tip from Tom Gerald that may be too good to pass up.

 

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R & R

There were many things we could have done today: Driven into the heart of Portlandia in search of pie, explored yet another of the churches in the area, gone shopping for something quintessentially Oregonian. It was a beautiful day (maybe a little muggy) and it's supposed to rain tomorrow. So we didn't want to waste a dry day. And yet...

We seem to have hit a wall. Laundry needed doing and we are a little tired of the car. If there are going to be forays into the world beyond the hotel, they need to be short and sweet. Tomorrow will be a bit stressful with the regional sing and all.

We got ourselves up nod went to breakfast. Came back to the room. Sarah decided that laundry was her calling. She gathered up the clothes and walked across to the market for soap and quarters and proceeded to find the laundry room in the hotel.

I had some housekeeping of my own. Math. Receipts. Did I say math? I was asleep in about 5 minutes.

But when Sarah came back, all the laundry was done! I paid her in yarn.

Guess where we are.

There was much discussion about colors and textures and symbolism and how much and stupid stuff like money.

But I was hungry. Had a hankering for steak fingers, but can you believe it, the DQ here never heard of it. So...

Then we put gas in the car so I don't have to worry about it tomorrow. Some guy actually came out and pumped it for me. That has been the norm in Oregon.

And then we went back to the room. I am thinking a lot about this rest business. Turns out it can be very hard work to rest. Once a pace is established, it can be very difficult to put the brakes on.

So a little light reading put me right back to sleep.

Woke up in time to check in on the presidential race. Hmmm. I have no wisdom.

Time for dinner!

Drove two freeway exits for pasta. A good day all in all.

Tomorrow: The Sing Day One!

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Dueling Headaches

Up early. Breakfast. Packing up. But took a nap. Both of us had headaches. No rush to leave. And I had some stuff to look up and straighten out. So we took advantage of the late checkout time and we didn't leave until noon.

We had a couple of things to do in Seattle. Krispy Kremes had been calling my name since we were in Seattle a few days ago, but I had successfully resisted. This time I was determined to grab one. So we turned in. The selection was more diverse than I remembered: Baked Chocolate Cake (chocolate monstrosity for Sarah) and Salted Caramel Filled (mine!).

After satisfying our doughnut cravings (and I am sure that there are better places and better doughnuts in a gourmet sense, but I have a fondness for KKs). Nothing like a sugar high to start a trip.

But we were also in search of Church of the Apostles (COTA, as it's called, I think I misidentified this young church as Church of the Angels). COTA is a pretty special congregation in a pretty special place. Fremont Abbey is owned by the Lutherans and it has been the home of various art projects for years. The young Lutheran-Episcopal congregation that calls it home is made up of young artists and musicians.

Signs direct us to the church office, but the buzzer is answered by a young artist who works for the Arts Center. He tells us that the staff usually covers for one another and he offered to take us on a quick tour so that our trip wouldn't be for nothing (the church staff being scarce today). He walked us through the building and showed us the great room. Fabulous wooden floors and amazing acoustics. Concerts and art showings and church happen in this room. Big party happened there last night.

Cody left us to sing for awhile in the great room. We sang By the Mark, Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing, Come O Thou Traveler, and I'm Gonna Tell My Jesus Howdy (because we could remember most of the words).

Then we said goodbye to Cody and Seattle and set out for Portland. We determined to spend more time there because we really liked it. And the sing is Saturday and Sunday. We need to be pretty well-rested. So travel today and rest tomorrow. Saturday and Sunday will be vocally strenuous.

The mountains came out to play today. Here is Mount Rainier. Mount Hood was a treat once we got to Portland, but we didn't have the iPad out for its unexpected appearance. There was quite a bit of driver insanity to witness. One 5th wheel driver insisted on going 80 in the passing land from Olympia to Portland. What a menace!

When we arrived in Clackamas, dinner out. Poutine and a Screaming Red Zombie-Sarah's drink of choice (with ice tea for me) and then football and a nice glass of wine for me. No more headaches!

Tomorrow: Rest and Pie!

 

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Return and Replace

Up very early today so that we are ready to leave the lap of luxury before we get used to it. That is right, we are getting ready to leave not only the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel, but Vancouver and Canada. But first...breakfast!

It was Sarah's request to return to Skoozis. Big Mediterranean flavors and a little sweet something at the end. We are sorry to say goodbye to this very gracious and welcoming little restaurant.

As we were leaving, the valet gave me a tip about getting out of town and to the border: Howe to Granville, left on 41st and right on Oak. Takes you right to the border.

It was a little disconcerting that instead of rain, this time there was fog. Really heavy fog. So I can't tell you anything about the country between Vancouver and the border. Very Brigadoon.

I did manage to pick the right lane. Homeland Security looked suitably bored with us and our answers. And we zipped through. So different from two days ago.

We stopped to change currency and buy ice. Yep. Back in the good ole USA.

Stopped at a Starbucks to recalibrate the phones and reorient ourselves and replace our data plan. Two days without has made me realize just how dependent I have become on my phone for directions and information. Take it away and I have no idea what is going on. Ah, yes. Maybe a movie? Nope, nothing close by enough. On to the hotel. Maybe later for the movie. The phone is everything.

Back to the simple hotel and schlepping our own bags (way more comfortable with that). A trip to the store for provisions and back to the hotel for dinner. A little like coming home.

Meanwhile, I am a little upset that I blew the opportunity to worship at Church of the Angels (COTA). I was really hoping to do that but the Sacred Harp regional sing is Saturday and Sunday. So, the best we could do is to go by tomorrow to check out the space and meet whoever is around.

Here is a stock foto. The congregation has space here. It belongs to the Lutherans, but there is a campaign going on so that COTA can buy it. This is a congregation of young people. Their Sunday service is at 5 p.m. There are musicians in the congregation who write music. There is an album coming out. What I have heard sounds really good. We'll see tomorrow.

All the driving has been wonderful. I have always enjoyed driving I love seeing the changes in the countryside and the craziness of drivers with someplace to go. I think the best part of this trip is being able to take a deep breath and go 60 instead of 75.

Loved Canada but also glad to be here. Sorry about the lack of fotos today but driving.

Tomorrow: COTA and the return to Portland.

 

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Wandering Through Wonderfilled Vancouver

We are tourists in the most embarrassing sense. Mouths agape, eyes fixed on map, in the way, hesitating to cross the street at very inconvenient times, having to read instructions at SkyTrain ticket kiosk over and over as if they are written in a foreign language (which they often are), requiring verbal instructions be delivered at least twice. You know, all the stuff we hate about dirty foreigners in California.

Being a stranger in a strange land (I have to say, the funny money has become rather beautiful and I am hesitant to give it back), I must admit to the sheer beauty of the country and the indefatigable polite nature of its people.
We are remarkably uneducated and brutish by comparison.

Breakfast this morning was quite a treat. We were given a gift at the end of the meal. Mediterranean strudel, they called it. A "welcome to Canada or Happy Thanksgiving" token. So tasty!

We took a walk looking for Christ Church Cathdral. We found it under construction! So, we took pictures and walked on.

We took the SkyTrain to the Main Street station and walked to the Village Dock to catch an Aquabus for Granville Market. Such a cool way to go. On the ride we met a lovely lady from Toronto who is here visiting her daughter (turns out she and her husband live the winter in Mexico!). She loves our politics, "So very entertaining. I do hope The Donald keeps polling for another couple of months just for the laughter, you know."

Wonderful market. We grabbed bread and chocolates and wine to go with our Pike Place Market cheese and fruit and last night's prime rib. Dinner!

The ride back was a breeze.

Watching tonight's debate in Canada. Should be interesting.
Hate to leave this bed behind, but I don't think they would like us dragging it along behind us when we start back for home tomorrow. Thinking of taking a coastal route back. But we have to renter the USA first. I am already dreaming of picking the correct customs lane!
Tomorrow: Leaving Canada Taking to the Coast!

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