Dropped Red off at the airport this morning, then drove her Ford Focus back to her place in Hillsdale.
After packing up my own things, and vacuuming out the Bimmer, I locked up the place and drove out of the parking lot, with a trunk filled with my gear and a duffel bag full of clean clothes.
With so much in the trunk, the Bimmer had lost a touch of the springiness from the day before after getting new tires. But it still felt nice on the road.
I headed along Capitol and merged onto Barbur heading north along the river. Sunday traffic was light A few minutes later I was crossing the bridge over 405, into the crowded urbanity of downtown.
A few blocks later I pulled off onto Mill Street, just beyond St. Michael the Archangel Church. I circled the block and parked along Montgomery, in front of the front door of the Value Inn. Today's journey was short indeed.
It was only mid afternoon, and the front desk was unmanned. I had to wait five minutes until the clerk showed up. The forms were old school---I actually had to fill out my name and address, as well provide a five-dollar cash deposit for the electronic room key.
After checking in, I found myself where I am now, lounging on a king size bed, looking out the window at the beautiful buildings of Portland State across the street. Five floors up, inside the glass box of a structure, students are churning their legs on a row of treadmills. Every once in a while, a street car comes by, rounding the corner by my room.
An empty pizza box sits on the night stand. The tube is on. I open my laptop. When the wi-fi comes up I realize I'd forgotten to ask for the password upon checking in.
Cripes, I'm out of practice at this.
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