Playing hooky

Ryan surprised me Monday by taking the day off. We played hooky, just like the old days in Boston. Back then, we used to spontaneously decide (on the way into work) to call in sick and explore the city instead. Those days are some of my best memories of living back east. We'd go to Southie, to Wonderland Station (inspired by the movie), to the aquarium. We hit up the places you'd never normally go, all in the spirit of discovering something new.

Sensing I was feeling a teensy bit of the February Funk, he concocted a beautiful little scavenger hunt of sorts that involved uncovering slices of Portland previously unknown to either of us. We started early, he drove, and I had no idea where we were going until we landed at each new place. It was fast-paced, organized, and I quickly noticed the theme: local, independent clothing, shoe, furniture, and skin care boutique shops he thought I would enjoy.

What a man, huh? And we went all day long, visiting the neighborhoods of Alberta, Mississippi, the Pearl, NW 23rd, and Hawthorne. Over 30 stores were browsed in all, with coffee & lunch breaks inserted here & there.

By the end of the day I was even more enamored with him than ever and totally overwhelmed by his meticulously planned outing. It was a perfect day. Thanks, babe.