6/26/08

PORTLAND, Ore. – A couple days ago, our postman – OK, postwoman – stopped on the front porch to chat. She knew we were going away for 10 days, because she was going to holding our mail, but didn’t know why.

“Vacation?” she asked.

“No, just going to Eugene.” Eugene, a college town 100 miles to the south, isn’t a vacation destination. “Going to the Olympic Trials,” I continued, hoping she didn’t think I was talking about a legal conference.