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News from Tualatin

 

Two small travelog items:

 

1)  There is some kind of enchantment in Oregon cast by the Department of Motor Vehicles.  Unlike anywhere I've ever been before, they have a "presence" on the streets and highways here way above any other public institution.

 

In every little town, and throughout the city and suburbs of Portland, signs abound that announce, in bold type, the location of the D.M.V.  Why this might be so important in Oregon while it of no importance or actually supressed in other locales, I've note been able to discover.

 

Note, this is not part of a general "better access to government services through prominent signage" campaign.  While there are numerous D.M.V. signs, there are none for fire stations, police departments, county clerks, courts, city halls, etc.  Oh, that's not quite fair ... these signs do exist, as they do in any other state or town, on small, inconspicuous signs tucjed behind shrubbery quite near the place indicated.  But the D.M.V. has far and away the best public-exposure of any government agency here ... or any where.

 

Why?

 

2)  As I've noted before, our apartment complex is maybe fifty yards from the Tualatin River, which runs just behond the edge of the complex.  Right next door to our apartments is Brown's Ferry Park, which fronts on the river and features a canoe and kayak rental concession.

 

All of which is to emphasize for you the discomfort we felt when it was announced on the evening news the other day that they had fished a dead body out of the river on the shores of Brown's Ferry Park.

 

A couple of days have passed, and it has been published that they have determined that the body drowned ( no apparent foul play), and it was also noted that it is impossible to say where exactly the body might have entered the water.

 

But still ...

 

Love you all -

 

Mike and Karen

 

p.s.  There are some pictures attached - I will send them in multiple mailings, as these have been getting kicked back to me when I put too many in one letter.  Thanks for your patience.