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One year ago, I achieved one of my biggest goals in life: setting foot in the state of Oregon.
It all started in the summer of 2015 when I got super into running and lost 40 pounds. I searched online every day for a city home to a selection of running groups I could join to stay motivated and one day run in a marathon. Three cities seemed to be the highest on every ranking a Google search could find — Portland, Eugene and Bend, Ore.
The more I researched Oregon, the more compelling I found the state to be and not just for runners but for pretty much every interest I have.
Oregon had so many places to hike, so many organizations for aspiring book writers, communities that promote individualism among its residents, career opportunities for corporate public relations jobs with NIKE, Inc. and events and festivals for free spirits.
When I flew there from Detroit last year, I found the majority of my expectations met. After checking into my hotel, I took a cab into downtown, which lasted a half-hour and costing me $50.
Rookie mistake.
On my way, however, I was amazed at one small detail — the amount of moss on the trees in the Pacific northwest thanks to all the rain. It was too cloudy to see Mt. Hood at that time, as well as most of that weekend.
My first stop downtown was Powell’s City of Books, which had many levels and many people there. I checked out a few books, a magazine and a shot glass as I began my adventure walking around the city of roses.
My next stop was at Voodoo Doughnuts, famous for its pink carry-out boxes and spooky treat designs. While waiting in line, I actually talked to an employee from the city’s tourist organization and received some interesting suggestions.
My walking and running continued along Tom McCall Waterfront Park and Poet’s Beach before checking out the famous library in the Heathmen Hotel and Portland Art Museum. I made my way back to Voodoo Doughnuts again with a much shorter line and bought four cereal-decorated doughnuts.
I concluded my trip by taking the tour guide’s advice and rode the MAX Light Rail Service (basically a subway) back to my hotel for the night.
The next day, I took that same subway all the way toward the west part of the city, where I got to hang out at Oregon Zoo and see a bunch of animals, before hiking through Washington Park and the Portland Japanese Garden. There, I was exposed to more moss-covered trees than I could imagine, and I got several compliments from other hikers for my Nintendo 64 T-shirt.
As it got into the late afternoon, I became paranoid by the time zone listed on my return-flight ticket, since I was returning to the east coast. I wanted to make sure my calculations were correct, so I played it safe and checked out of my hotel and made it to the airport early. Turns out, I was way too early, so I found an airport version of the Powell’s bookstore and bought another book, ate a cheeseburger at a restaurant, drank some craft brews at a bar and boarded the plane.
When I got home to snowy Michigan, I looked through all my souvenirs and decided my favorite was the key chain with a photo of me acting like a tiger I got from the zoo. In the moment I had that photo taken of me, it made me feel like me for the first time in a while.
Because I made it to Oregon.
Contact Orrin Shawl at
oshawl@newtondailynews.com