Dear everybody,
It was a long trip, made longer by my staying out all night Friday. The fight was delayed leaving Houston. There was some trouble because I hadn’t pre-paid for transportation to the hotel.
But the weather is gorgeous, 80 and a light breeze. There’s more food and booze than I need. People from all over the world to talk to. And this morning I ate breakfast with a beautiful French Canadian woman.
Did I mention she was trying to sell me a timeshare?
Still, she seemed genuinely sad when I said my final no. Head down, voice low, she mumbled, “but I really liked you,” before picking up all her charts and notes and walking me back to the lobby. And we did talk of other things. I learned she is frightened and disgusted by the sea. “Lovely to look at, but when it is time to swim, I always have other things to do.”
Later I’m going for a run on the beach, and I have to schedule the relaxing massage that was my other reward for listening to the sales spiel. A few more days of this and I’ll forget what Portland is like.
I wish you all were here. No, really. When can you get here? The bus to the nightclubs leaves at 10:30! Merry Christmas!
signed, Brian