Barbara J. Hamby

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Just an Old Lady Prattling

We have so much stuff packed now that it’s looking very bare and uncluttered all around us. I told Al that, after we move, we should just unpack every third box and throw the other two away. He thought that might be interesting if I picked his boxes and he picked mine. Forget it.

Each time I sit down to rest, I do a chore such as filling my pillboxes or I read a little bit of the Sunday paper. Today I read about some new “row houses” offered for sale on SE 47th in Portland, near Woodstock. The prices are $400,000. plus. When I first moved to Portland in 1962, I lived in a tiny two-bedroom house on SE 50th near Woodstock Park. My folks lived on SE 47th near Holgate. My, how that neighborhood is changing. I’ll have to take a drive over there and look around.

I also read a long essay on the web today about the economy and how the housing market is overloaded with listings. The “doom and gloom” writer predicted a serious recession by the end of this year. I would think it’s sort of a no-brainer that, if most of the new jobs are minimum wage or less, and houses are selling for astronomical prices, something’s got to give. But I’m just an old lady, what do I know?

My daughter Gail is finding Grand Jury less demanding in some ways than general jury duty. Some days matters are withdrawn at the last minute, so they have unexpected free time. Friday she had several hours free in the middle of the day, so she went for a long walk around the Rose Festival Fun Center. Today she had a break and gave me a call. However, when they are in session, it can be pretty intense.

I don’t know how unusual it is, but I’ve never served on a jury of any kind. I was only called twice. The first time was for Federal Court and, after I filled out the questionnaire, I was not contacted again. The second time was for jury duty in Multnomah County, Oregon and I received the notice right after I moved to Clark County, Washington. Both times I was working in law offices and thought it would be an interesting experience to be on a jury. It seems unlikely I’ll be called again in my lifetime.