Up Close and Personal

After all these years of enjoying the Gaithers -- by way of music tapes and CD's, videos, and concerts, today I finally got to talk to Gloria Gaither--up close and personal! My son invited me to attend the chapel service with him at the Bible college where he works, to hear Gloria Gaither speak.

This was a very small auditorium compared to the one where I attended Bible school, so the setting felt quite homespun for such a celebrity guest. As I was sitting there (in a seat at the aisle) waiting for Jim to arrive, Gloria walked right by me--alone, just like any ordinary person, with no one paying any attention to her! I couldn't resist such an opportunity to meet her, so I got up from my seat (just a few rows from the front) and went to talk with her. What a grand moment for me--I loved it and could hardly believe it was really happening to me!

Unfortunately, the pictures I took of her when she got up to speak, turned out lousy, but she was a very good speaker and I enjoyed it all immensely!

After chapel Jim and I went to lunch at a funky little cafe in Portland (the Hawthorne District). "Big Daddy's BBQ" -- What a fun spot, and great food! (That's Jim sitting by the bright yellow flames on the window.)








When I went to use the bathroom, I could barely stifle my laugh when I opened the door . . . the toilet sat immediately facing me--not against the wall as one would expect. How very handy to be able to just plop down immediately as one steps inside! (The close and personal feel of a toilet stall, with the convenience of a full bathroom.) Plus, there was a back door -- I guess for making a secret escape if one needs to, rather than going back out the way you came in!

This is the second unusual toilet sight I've come face-to-face with in the last two weeks! (Last week it was a close encounter with a man carrying a toilet on his shoulder at the river.) Perhaps my new hobby will be watching for funny toilet sightings.