Portland Seen from the freeway, it’s dirty and its landscape is dotted by homeless encampments or remains of those. Together with the gloomy gray sky, it sets a rather dismal mood. Still, when you get out of the car and walk around, the mood brightens. Store windows are brightly decorated and the people are very eclectic. Especially the women. The death scooters abound; like discarded newspapers, they litter the streets though less so than when I was here last with Lisa. Powell’s Books is still otherworldly and blissful. I found four books I could not resist. Hundreds more I was attracted to. I also found where Plague City would be in the Mystery Thriller section.

Friday in Pioneer Square Pianos decorated with colorful themes dot the square on Fridays. This is lovely. Many, many humans from all walks of life can play piano. It was interesting to see just who would sit down and recall something from their past training and those who were maybe tinkling the ivories for the very first time. All in full view of diners, testers, preachers, workers, travelers, and walkers-by. Kids were by far the most unguarded. They all universally approach the keys with confidence. They don’t know yet that there are good, better, and best sounds from the piano. Never mind a bad sound. These didn’t exist for the young ones. My favorite vignette was of a delicate woman with dark hair and fair skin, playing some Beethoven with great precision and energy on the elevated platform while a rough bearded man with a kindly smile and scraggly beard sat and tapped his foot to her music the entire time. He applauded her before he left. There was something beautiful about the scene I won’t forget soon.