15 + 8 points
The Highest Place by Cloud
November 13th, 2010 10:59 AM
I knew Veteran's Day was coming up, and there was a little bit of history that went with it for my family. I researched my area and tried to find some fun events to do - something besides a breakfast filled with WWII vets and dentures and tiresome speeches. However, both of my parents were busy and it seemed I would not be treating either of them to a dinner or hike of any kind. I remembered coming across the Japanese Gardens in my search - free admission for the day, I couldn't wait. 1PM on November 11th, I meet my friend downtown. We just barely miss the hourly bus that would take us to our destination, so we go back to the grocery store to get out of the rain and scrounge up some food.
We get back to the bus stop with a few minutes to spare and I briefly talk about the low points of zoobombing as we pass a tough corner that used to be part of a main route. The bus drops us off at the top of the hill, but there are a lot of trees surrounding us. I thought we were at the top of the hill. Then I turned around to face west and I saw the heavenly stairs waving up the hillside into what someone like me would call the promised land. We hike up to the top as fast as we can - out of breath, but content. We each grab a brochure and head into the public gardens after silencing our cell phones. After walking through the front gates, I smelled destiny. If I won the lottery and I had to choose a new place to live - it would be here. Tea ceremonies everyday, meditating in the sand garden, and sleeping on bamboo mats.
15 minutes into our journey, we find ourselves on the back patio of what seems to me to be the main living quarters of the campus - if this were the 1500's in Edo. I carefully slide the door shut behind me, saying goodbye to the perfect studio apartment momentarily. Then I turned east, and I saw it - everything. I never realized how high we were! Even the Bancorp tower was an ant beneath my heels! I felt like I could live there in peace forever. Carefully studying the horizon near and far to identify all of my favorite places this side of the Willamette River. For one full hour, I had found zen without even travelling far from the heart of the city.
We get back to the bus stop with a few minutes to spare and I briefly talk about the low points of zoobombing as we pass a tough corner that used to be part of a main route. The bus drops us off at the top of the hill, but there are a lot of trees surrounding us. I thought we were at the top of the hill. Then I turned around to face west and I saw the heavenly stairs waving up the hillside into what someone like me would call the promised land. We hike up to the top as fast as we can - out of breath, but content. We each grab a brochure and head into the public gardens after silencing our cell phones. After walking through the front gates, I smelled destiny. If I won the lottery and I had to choose a new place to live - it would be here. Tea ceremonies everyday, meditating in the sand garden, and sleeping on bamboo mats.
15 minutes into our journey, we find ourselves on the back patio of what seems to me to be the main living quarters of the campus - if this were the 1500's in Edo. I carefully slide the door shut behind me, saying goodbye to the perfect studio apartment momentarily. Then I turned east, and I saw it - everything. I never realized how high we were! Even the Bancorp tower was an ant beneath my heels! I felt like I could live there in peace forever. Carefully studying the horizon near and far to identify all of my favorite places this side of the Willamette River. For one full hour, I had found zen without even travelling far from the heart of the city.
