Motivated by two relaxing and stimulated outings to the back porch of Jet Black, H and D headed to the SW waterfront complex for the cozy Upstream shop and its outdoor picnic benches overlooking the boat docks on the Willamette.   At one time the Bean and Tree Coffee Shop, Upstream’s undergone some positive recent upgrades, but it’s interior is still limited in size thus limited hanging out for too long.     Oh, but the outside setting is lovely and a good stimulant for flights of fancy.

Today’s discussion started with an update on R and D’s trip back east to Chicago to see Hamilton, D’s high school reunion in Wisconsin, and then camping/hiking outings in the Dakotas and Wyoming; then to the self image reflections that a high school reunion can bring about, and how in some ways D saw his earlier self in some of President Trump’s bravado; then to mentally how we deal with changing self-images when our bodies don’t have the capabilities they used to possess, such as carrying 40–50 lb backpacks; H discussed some transitions that have been psychologically difficult for him – when he became less essential to his childrens’ lives, and the first year of retirement, for example; we ended up talking about our children, and how some have found stability, but not all.

0315 SW Montgomery         https://www.facebook.com/upstreamcoffeepdx/