Still a Bike Advocate

I don’t have any old notes for this date so I went through my emails and identified some stuff.  For instance, I noticed that my friend Allison was still a bike advocate.  I also, noted a ride that I took to Russian Hill via Golden Gate Park and the Presidio.  The next day I emailed my thesis to myself after a long day of work.  I had been using a poor quality backup computer because mine had recently died and was in the shop.  I also had some of my thesis get printed out.  A sad thing happened that day as well, my brother-in-law’s father died.  I also made plans with some friend’s to do a kid’s cycling class in Glendale.

This is series chronicles my life at regular intervals. This Memo series is meant to be a retrospective of what I have written and experienced. In each of these posts I use my notes in conjunction with memory, mementos and souvenirs to create a snap shot of my life.

Back in Portland Now

Kevin!

It's so good to hear from you. I was actually thinking about you the other day and wondering what you were up to as well. I am glad to hear you are in SF although it sounds like maybe the most ideal situation. Are you working now? Whereabouts? I think often of moving to the Bay, but that is something I will always feel I think. I am back in Portland now. I got back from an intense 9 months in Guatemala in September, which took about 2 months to finally feel "normal" again, although that is also something I will probably always struggle with. Things have been pretty good though, and actually for the first time I have felt that I could stay here for a while. I am working part-time and ideally would like something more substantial, but the job market here is nuts. I know it is the case everywhere, but there are so many well-qualified young people here the competition is out of control. I spent a few months with my parents in the suburbs but I am now in the city in a shared house situation which is going super great. Biking, however, has been put on hold for a while cause I broke my shoulder in an unfortunate bike crash. It has been a little over a month now and the improvement is drastic, but I think I need a few more weeks to get back on the bike. I pretty much cant wait for Spring to be here. Oregon winters wear on the soul a bit.

Well, I could probably ramble for a while more, but thanks again for writing. And write back if you can!

--Caitlin

"build a revolution in which speaking and listening to somebody becomes the first and last purpose to every social encounter." --june jordan

This is series chronicles my life at regular intervals. This Memo series is meant to be a retrospective of what I have written and experienced. In each of these posts I use my notes in conjunction with memory, mementos and souvenirs to create a snap shot of my life.

Experience That Portland Has

Caitlin,

I was reflecting today on Jeff Mapes and his "Pedaling Revolution" a book he wrote while reporting for the Oregonian newspaper.  Having visited Oregon, I have had the privilege to read his colleagues and consider their point view on numerous occasions.  I was thinking about bicycling and how my experience has largely missed out on the developments in Portland.  While having grown up in the Bay Area and participated in advocacy in Southern California it has always struck me that, being a CA native, even a brief visit will never likely provide me with the experience that Portland has to offer.

Iris told me last week that you have recently moved back there.  How is it?  Have you taken to the bike culture there?

I am back in SF now. Things are different here now.  I can hardly explain it.  Life in the perpetual boom town has very noticeably become much more dependent upon innovation and idea creation.  Even when people do get together for parties, I have noticed it is mostly to learn how to do their "thing" better.  Most of my friends live in the East Bay now as rent is so high.

Let me know what yer up to. I miss your regular emails from Central America.

Kevin 

This is series chronicles my life at regular intervals. This Memo series is meant to be a retrospective of what I have written and experienced. In each of these posts I use my notes in conjunction with memory, mementos and souvenirs to create a snap shot of my life.