A Wicked Fun Getaway

Seven years ago my dear friend Kelly and I boarded a short flight to Portland, OR. We both had brand new babies, born just a day apart and they were safely tucked in their carseat carriers, accompanying us on our trip. This wasn't just any vacation. We were charged with the task of finding our friend Betsy a house. She and her family were making a move to Portland from Illinois and didn't have time to take a househunting trip. Betsy narrowed down her list of potential homes and gave us the short list to go and look at in person. We spent a frenzied day going from house to house with our newborns trying to find the perfect house. Mission accomplished. We picked a nice house on a cul-de-sac right by the school. Soon Betsy and family moved to Portland and we were all reunited. Since then we've had lots of fun trips to the Oregon Coast and a few days at the lake in the summer. And for the past few years we've managed to squeeze in a little "retreat" just for the ladies. By far our most adventurous retreat was the week we spent in an orphanage in China in 2005. But since we've added several children to the mix since that time we have to settle for quick getaways. In fact, we are amazed we were ever able to go to China in the first place.

This year's retreat sent us back to our roots as Kelly and I once again boarded that quick flight to Portland. Betsy picked us up from the airport and we drove one mile to IKEA. We were there before it opened so we sat in the car and let the floodgates of conversation open. From there the shopping and talking continued. We ate a rushed dinner at a yummy Chinese restaurant and then booked it to our hotel. My niece just happened to be staying in the same hotel and she arrived as we were literally running to the Max to catch a train into downtown Portland. She and her husband Mike saved the day by driving us to the Keller Theater where we had purchased last minute tickets to see Wicked. We hadn't realized it was playing until a day or two before our trip. Luckily Kelly scored us some tickets and we had so much fun watching the play together. Betsy had seen it in New York but it was the first time for Kelly and I. What a perfect girlfriend play. I can see why everyone loves this musical so much.

The next day was a little more leisurely. Betsy and Kelly swam laps in the hotel pool and I went on a walk around the neighborhood. It was so charming and brought back lots of great memories from the time Jason and I lived in Portland. We hit some more stores for shopping and stopped for lunch at Burgerville for some Rosemary fries. For the first time ever we arrived at the airport on time, well rested and refreshed.

It's hard to get away and leave home but so worth it.