Barbara J. Hamby

Weather or Not

One good thing about living in the Pacific Northwest is never lacking a subject for conversation. The weather always furnishes material. My sister in Seattle tells me they’ve not had a single day this spring where the temperature went above 75 degrees. Here in Portland, we had at least one—I don’t remember any more than that. Actually, we had a high of slightly over 80 degrees, as I recall, for one day only.

On gray, dreary days we have to struggle to remind ourselves why we live here. In spite of the weather, I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. If I get too depressed, a trip up the Columbia Gorge, or to Mt. Hood, or the coast, can cure me quickly. Actually, I don’t have to physically go there, but just imagine that I’m in one of those fantastic places.

This June, our television weather forecasters even look as if they wish they’d chosen some other line of work.

For months now, I’ve been concerned that we may have too many restaurants in near proximity to us. It’s hard to believe they can all draw enough business to succeed. This week, another one just opened up. It’s a 40’s style drive-in. I haven’t tried it yet—my stomach isn’t ready for fast food at the moment. Floyd went over there for lunch today He said the chicken sandwich was good, but getting it was confusing. Now I’m curious to try it out. This is the fifth restaurant that has opened in the last year or so. We already had a number of them, so I hope they all make it.

Next to the new drive-in, a used car sales lot opened recently, also. Both are up on Highway 99, but just a few blocks from us. There goes the neighborhood.