Wednesday 7 April Portland,Oregon

Written by Jack van Ommen on April 8th, 2010

The last days of Holy Week I stayed with daughter #2  Rose Marie in Federal Way and I attended the services for Holy Thursday and Good Friday at nearby Sainte Therese church. The liturgy and songs were alternated in Spanish and English. A group of about 25 high school age boys and girls acted out and sang Christ’s Passion. I was impressed by the perfect coordination and a professionalism that one would at best expect from a much more mature group of young people. The girls choir accompaniment was flawless.  A memorable experience. On Easter Sunday I sang in the choir at my longtime parish, St. Nicholas, in Gig Harbor. The last time I sang with them was in 2004. Where will I be for Easter in 2011, Greece? Last year at St.Therese in Portsmouth, Va., 2008 Saint Augustine, Florida, 2007 Island of St.Helena, 2006 Hanoi, 2005 Santa Barbara, California.  

Today I  rode with daughter #1, Lisa, to Portland, Oregon. She had a business meeting and I looked up long time friends from my lumbermen days, Jim Rodway and Pat Burns at Patrick Lumber Company. Her meeting was in the Montgomery Park building. The below picture is of the center court that joins two, over 100 year old warehouse, buildings, converted into modern offices. Son # 2, Seth, works near Lloyd Center in Portland and he joined Lisa and I for dinner at Sanford restaurant at lloyd Center.

Tomorrow, Thursday, I fly to Southern California to visit my first wife Joan. Jeannine, daughter #2, Sean her husband and daughter Gabrielle from Virginia are visiting Joan this week. Son # 1, John and his friend Jessica, will also be visiting from Portland, Oregon. So, I get to see nearly my entire offspring, in three different locations within the same week. The exceptions are grandsons #1 and # 3 , Mark in Texas and David in Virginia and my great grandson and great granddaughter. Now you’ll understand why Joan is still driving the 1970 Volkswagen bus we bought in Europe in 1969. I promise a picture……

My 97 year old friend Roman is still hanging on to life but getting weaker. It is difficult to communicate but I am grateful for the firm handshake and wave when I visit. Please, keep him and his wife in your thoughts and prayers.

 

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