My visit to Portland

I rode with Danzante in his car from New Westminster to Portland last Wednesday, Nov 25, the day before American Thanksgiving. It was one of those weather days I don't like to remember. Just walking to breakfast at Joe's before I left nearly soaked me through. The rain had stopped when I left the restaurant so I walked up the street to a travel agency to buy insurance, the only thing I had forgotten to do beforehand. It was pouring again when I walked home a few minutes later, and as I waited at a crowded bus stop on my way to New Westminster to meet him.

The rain kept up until White Rock, just before the border, and then it cleared up, making the rest of the drive much easier for him. We made it to Portland and Wallowa's home (the Chicken Ranch) an hour after dark. We were ready to roll up our sleeves and pitch in to help with dinner preparations for the next night, but Wallowa was exhausted and frustrated that his first 25 lb turkey took 11 hours to finish cooking. We decided to get up early to start the preps fresh. That night I slept with Mystic One. We snuggled a bit but did nothing beyond that. It was difficult to sleep as he was jittery and moved a lot. He was anxious about his move to Mexico that was about to happen a day and a half later.

Thursday, the morning of Thanksgiving dinner, we were all up early cleaning the green beans, peeling potatoes, chopping mushrooms and preparing the dressing. After our obligatory three hours of help Danzante and I left to deliver gifts he had brought for several friends. First we visited our mutual friends Ken (Quercus) and his partner David (who is reviewing my novel). I wasn't able to climb their front stairs, which had no railings, so they came out to say hi to me at the car. They stood there 20 minutes in the rain. Next we went to Periwinkle and Otter's place, which I also couldn't get into I surmised, then to his former best friend (which he hadn't seen for 5 years) Michael Buck's home.

Then it as off to another mutual friend's home, Gian (Gina Falloffabridgidda), where
we met his new partner Merlin. They made us sandwiches while they were making preparations for a naked gay men's Thanksgiving dinner! One participant, Dave, showed up shortly after we did, got naked (we were clothed) and came out of the bathroom with a raging hard-on. He was beautiful, and intelligent (once we focused on conversation instead of his cock) and I was fixated on him. Gian got Danzante stoned, too stoned to drive, so I killed time with Dave watching porn in the next room. He was hard as rock again and we started to fool around, me in my clothes and him being naked. It was the hottest, sweetest encounter I had had for months and, though I didn't come, it did wonders for my ego. I couldn't stop talking about him when I left. I gave him my phone and email address but I doubt I'll ever hear from him.

This was followed by a lovely visit with another mutual friend Cedar, which lasted far too long. We were over an hour late for Thanksgiving dinner by the time we returned to Wallowa's. Some of the guests had just finished as we arrived but most were still eating. I walked around for the next 20 minutes looking for a clean set of cutlery and a place to sit. There were 50 guests and so many familiar faces I had met at Breitenbush all happy to see me, but I only wanted to sit down and eat. The guests mingled and chatted for another couple hours before some of them said their goodbyes. It was all a bit overwhelming, but flattering too since so many were sincerely glad to see me again.

Friday the weather was brilliantly sunny. Danzante gave me a tour of the parks and neighbourhoods of Portland. I was very impressed. As much as I love Vancouver, Portland seems more livable, friendlier, more relaxed and has better architecture. We picked up Michael Buck, had lunch and then the three of us headed to look for a butte to get a view of the city. We never found it and ended up far out into the countryside having given up after an hour or so.

That evening several of Wallow's friends dropped by, including an old friend of Danzante's, John, and his Guatemalan bf, and another friend of D's, Jason, and his Spanish flamenco dancer/lover Juan who live in Santa Fe. John seemed to take a shine to me and asked me for my phone and e-mail address before he left.

We wound our way back into the city, dropped Michael off and headed to Otter and Periwinkle's home for yet another Thanksgiving dinner. It was a huge struggle to get into their place but I eventually managed it. This time there were only 8 guests, including Jim (Gymbawb), Periwinkle's mother Lotus and two of Danzante's oldest friends, Vickie and Levita. Levita, although a straight man, was in a dress. I love straight people who act gay in public! I didn't get to meet him though as he had a feinting spell that had everyone in a panic. He came to just as someone was dialing 911. The rest of the evening was uneventful in comparison. Danzante spent the night at the Otterwinkles and Gymbawb, who lives at the Chicken Ranch, drove me back there. I was proud that I got into so many difficult places in the past two days without a single fall.

Saturday the Faes of Portland meet for coffee downtown on the east side. Sssnake, an old friend who also lives at the Chicken Ranch, drove me there. Again there were a couple dozen familiar faces, including Dave from Gian's naked party. He made no special effort to spend time with me, though he was friendly. He was a bit shocked that I was using a cane (which I prefer to do in unfamiliar terrain). Danzante showed up after spending a couple hours catching up with Michael Buck. A group of 6 of us went for dinner at a great little restaurant called "Old Wives' Tales". Danzante and I did another abbreviated tour of a couple other trendy neighbourhoods and checked out a galley before returning to the Chicken Ranch. Danzante went for a Chinese food dinner with Sssnake. I wasn't hungry so I spent the evening chatting with Gymbawb and getting to know him better.

Sunday was good weather again. Wallowa did Danzante's hair and Sssnake took everyone out for breakfast and a wonderful eatery before we left. We weren't on the road until almost half past noon, but we didn't stop, except for gas, so it was still light until we were half an hour from the border. It was a bit too long without food for me and I was a bit irritable when I couldn't find my transit tickets at the Skytrain station in New Westminster where Danzante dropped me off. I can spend five great days with someone but if I get grumpy at the end of it that is what he remembers. He was pissed at me for my few seconds of selfishness, but I think he'll get over it.

Part of my anxiety was the Skytrain ride itself, as it is often packed on a weekend night heading downtown. It was last Sunday, as there was a game on or something. Soon I was squeezed in like a sardine, and I fretted over how difficult it would be to get up and get off the train when I needed to. The train emptied though, two stops before mine. I was afraid I'd have to wait 20 minutes in the rain for my bus but it was only spitting and the bus came within 10 minutes. By now you know I hate public transit, especially when it is crowded and when I have stand waiting for extended periods with a pack on my back. I prepared myself a sandwich as soon as I got home and I was fine again.