I'm in Portland, Oregon, right now visiting with my friend Theresa and her husband Matthew. I met Theresa last summer while volunteering at a Chinese foster home for blind children. She is a high school teacher at the Washington State School for the Blind and a writer. Matthew is a priest at the Orthodox Christian church that they attend. They are good people; currently all three of us are in the kitchen having a mac party - that is, conversing sporadically while typing away on our personal mac notebooks.

Portland is a most beautiful and foresty city, and it has been refreshing and healing for my soul to spend time here. I cannot tell you how gorgeous and picturesque every corner of this city looks (at least what I've seen so far). It's definitely a treat to be here after living in New York City and Los Angeles. Today I attended the graduation ceremony at WSSB. It was so tender to see the seniors receive their hard-earned diplomas in spite of their visual impairment, complete with supportive family members, teachers and friends weeping. My heart felt warm and happy having partook in this special occasion.

This evening Theresa and I took a walk outside of her home, which, I swear, looks like an enchanted forest. Along the way we talked about family, marriage, mistakes, dogs, and trees. Tomorrow we will be driving up to Woodland, Washington, to attend a lunch party at LiQin's host family's house. LiQin is another beloved friend from China; she is 19, blind, from the foster home and currently attending WSSB for a year. Today she brought me lots of laughs by reminding me of how last summer the kids at the foster home made me their honorary grandmother, and how I complied with their demands by acting senile and speaking in a husky voice.

Oh man, I'm lovin' it here. At this rate, I'm not ever going to want to leave this place!