Slipstream

When I arrived in Portland last week, I headed toward the south end of Waterfront Park, that area squeezed in between the Willamette River and the sky-scratching high-rises of downtown commerce. Along the way I passed the Occupy Portland encampment and its surplus of tents and tarps and tethers and hand-painted testaments to a belief in democracy, civil liberties, and a government for and by the people.

At least that’s what the signs suggested. (more…)

We arrive at Our Lady of Guadalupe Trappist Abbey in northwest Oregon at about three in the afternoon. I park in the lower lot, pull my bag out of the van, and drop it on the ground. I don’t think. I just belt out a hefty “Shit!”

My traveling companion looks at me with as much monkish patience as he can muster and gently reminds me that we’re at a monastery. Properly humbled, I follow him to the guest quarters. (more…)