Chapter 1- Transitions

I had not been in Portland for more than a few days when I went to my first show at Berbati's. It was Rocky Votolato and Owen. I was there alone and still had a blast. I met my first not Reed affiliated person that night. I gave her some change so that she could get the bus home and she told me where I could find her so that she could pay me back in the form of a latte at the coffee shop she worked at. 

I walked back to my car with my Rocky Votolato EP in hand and was very observant of my surroundings. 3rd Ave. at night looked like a pretty shady place especially that hole across the street called Silverado. I attempted to make it back to my apartment at Reed without getting lost. I knew that I was in SW and needed to be in SE and would have to cross a bridge to make it home. I drove around aimlessly until I found a bridge called Ross Island and eventually saw a sign for Reed College and found my apartment. I was a Lost Boy from the start, but I found my way. I will never forget those first few days in PDX, on my own and learning and finding my way. It turns out that being lost and found found would be the story of my semester. Oh hell, the story of my life...

The day after my first show I left on a retreat with the Res Life staff I hardly knew, and that was the beginning of one of my life's great adventures. The last sixth months have been a great challenge, personally, professionally and spiritually and those were only the first sixth months. There is so much that lies ahead! The first semester went by in a heartbeat and here I am back in California, reflecting...

Transitions. They come in varieties. We fall to them. We overcome them. We learn from them. Transitions can make us better people, therefore, I am thankful for them. It was a semester of questioning and growth. I love putting myself outside of my comfort zone and I am glad I was able to do so in Portland. Portland is my home and I hope to continue to call it home for some time. I have never so much felt as if I was consistently in my element as I have been in PDX. 

Since I have been home I have been asked several times if Portland/Reed is everything that I thought that it would be. My answer is that my expectations were high but Portland and Reed have far exceeded my expectations. I boast about the city, the  skyline, the Portlanders, my new friends, my staff and the Reedies. 

There was so much that happened in my first 6 months. There is so much that has happened and I don't want to include it in this blog. All I will say is that, I love Portland, I love the Lost Boys, I love Reed and I am excited to see where the next 6 months take me. I have a feeling, a funny feeling in the pit of my stomach, but I don't want to get ahead of myself...

"The night is always darkest before the dawn"