Intense older man sends me email...

Random photos  on my way to PSU last  week to register for Spring term.  Walking decision followed this exchange with a guy waiting at bus stop. 

"Think one's coming soon?"

"I've been here ten minutes; should be."

"Not sure whether I should wait."

[He smiles] "Need the exercise?"

It was, at that moment mild drizzle.  Of the two routes available to cross the 405 highway overpass, my choice was the one without the quilt-covered homeless man striding in the same direction. 

The decoration on the bridge fencing is something I've noticed before in Portland.  There's a practice known as  "guerrila knitting" (found at the Ravelry site) that favors random knit messaging without words.  But these letters are not knit rather some knot technique.  This particular one is more direct  and celebratory than those favored by the guerrila girls and boys.

Waiting at a Chipolte restaurant for Ron, looking out the window, I wonder if about hanging out here between classes.  Too much loud music.  Probably no place in this universe is music-free.  Library?  Yes, I need to get earphones.  We decide eating here would not work and walk toward the SALC office.  Find other student-type, bad food place-- at least not fried.

The afternoon brightened on reaching  Susan's desk, the tiny, very useful office where old folk  register.   She was the person who patiently answered my cellphone call  as I wandered around campus on another  rainy last Fall. Her insider view as an older student (grandma of four) led me to a department I would never have tried:  Geography!  "Sense of Place" has a description that fits my interests, "...explores meaning in landscapes and identity in regions and localities...through media images, scholarly writings, photography, and art..."

Meanwhile, Ron met a very intense man also waiting to see Susan. Robert Burco, who has a considerable past like the rest of us who have been in the world for a long time.  He filled in some of our Portland, the city, recent  history.  His plan is to complete a PhD begun forty years ago.  I am awed.  He forwarded an email about his local efforts which will require another meeting to understand. 

How will we locate him again on campus?  We might need to form something, leave messages on the bulletin board near the SALC door.  What would other old students respond to as a title--how about a periodic group, a  cell?  On the latter, see #3, the only one I could locate outside biology.

In response to my question to Susan about who might be a person at  the Institute on Aging to discuss thoughts about the state of lifelong learning from those of us outside academe, Susan introduced us to Alan DeLa Torre, a doctoral candidate/research assistant in the department.  Ah, we spoke the same language.  Ron joined us; we learned more about his work in the development of affordable housing for older adults.  And he listened to our questions about holes in lifelong learning for educated old people.

What an afternoon!  We gave up walking in now-heavier rain and took the #8 bus home.

[Been not-so-well over  the past three weeks--flu via grandchildren, maybe some allergic reactions to  new flora in the environment.  Beautifully spring here but we need more of that famous Portland rain!  So will be catching up on the life-transposed in future postings.]

Comments

[Kay Dennison]

Sounds like you're having fun despite not feeling well. I hope Spring brings you recovery from all malaise. I just ranted my fool head off on my blog -- twice. Is it time for my nap? LOL

[Hattie]

Antihistimines, my dear. You can't survive Portland without them.

[Hattie]

Antihistamines, I mean. I should never post without checking my spelling.
Your experiences remind of my undergrad days at Portland State. Best bet for food then was the cart food.
Wonder who the Susan is. Sue Danielson, maybe? Well, there are so many Sues of a certain age.

[Anne Gibert]

There's a virus going around this part of the world. It has sneezes, feeling pooped all the time and sometimes headache and chills. I tend to think that "I'm just getting old. It will be this way from now on." Then I start feeling better, and I know that it was just a blankity-blank bug, and I probably have a few good years left.

Geography sounds great. You are lucky to have a senior friendly university. Western Washington in Bellingham is not. Fortunately we have a good community college here, so there are some opportunities for seniors. They tend to be of the self-improvement genre though. Things like "Organize your closets and your life" or "Grow your own vegetables". I have been taking an excellent class in drawing, though.

I think your city life sounds exciting, as I look out over the peaceful woods -- lots of deer, few people.

[Marianne]

Oh yes! the west coast rains and allergy season. I'm sitting here sniffling in Chicago too. definitely allergy nose, not flu like for me. I LOVE your new life Naomi. So fun to hear about! I'm determined to become fluent in Spanish and I want to take a writing class and try for that book! :-) Feel better soon!