Adventures in the ‘hood II

list of 10 adventure ideas with 4 checked off

In last week’s blog I asked for your help in choosing adventures that would help me face my fears of not making new connections in my new home town. Your response (here, on Facebook and personally replying by email) was heart-warming. You motivated me to go out and try new things. Maybe you’ll be motivated too! Here, in part II of Adventures in my ‘Hood, are the top requested ideas and lessons learned.

#1 Log Rolling

painting of two log rolling lumber jacks by Phillip Goodwin, 1921
Art by Phillip Goodwin, 1921

As one loyal fan told me – “You’re in the Pacific Northwest, of course you should try log rolling!” Log rolling does capture the imagination, harking back to the raw, rough & tumble days of the late 1800s when settlers were taking part in the dangerous industry of logging. Jim, my brother-outlaw who works for lumber companies offered me his “caulk boots” (the logging boots with spikes) with a hearty big laugh.

Are you curious how a public gym would be okay with trees in the pool? Thanks to a quick online search, I was better prepared for the “latest exercise trend” and the new equipment created for indoor log rolling.

going into the pool to try log rolling
Come on in, the water’s…not too cold! That red floating thing is the “log” and the yellow is for added stability while people attempt climbing up
on top of the log for attempting log rolling
Here I am, on top of the log! It’s harder than it looks.
splash into the pool after falling off the log
You can’t see it, but falling off the log made me laugh!

Log Rolling Lessons

Log rolling was definitely an activity that pushed my limits! Here are some of the lessons I learned in this adventure:

  • I had to get over my self-consciousness of my body. I was here to learn something, not to pick up guys (ha!).
  • Persistence pays. I kept falling off, but every time I climbed back up, I made progress.
  • Motivation to come back, but fitter. Log rolling is harder than it looks, and I am not as fit as I want. Next time I will be stronger and more successful at standing up!
  • Inspiration to others. Younger people saw me trying and came over to try too. One woman was ready to give up after one try. I reassured her no one is perfect the first time out. Also, when you say something with confidence, people tend to believe you. I told the girl she had to try at least five times. With that in her head, she kept trying until she stood up! Side note – I felt better about not standing on the log after watching several fit young men not be able to either!

#2 Celtic Jam

People playing Irish music at a local coffee shop
A small group playing Irish tunes during the “Celtic Jam” at a local coffee shop

A surprising number of people like this idea, so it’s #2 on the list. I had high hopes for this adventure – giving it romantic notions of smokey jazz club vibes in a hip coffee shop. I also hoped it would be similar to events my friend Harlow participates in with musical friends. From what I know of his Irish jam sessions, they seem lively and filled with fun. If it were an event like that, my non-logical reasoning thought, then maybe there will be people my age there to meet.

We took the risk, and it was not such a fun event. It felt like we were attending a practice session for a church social. The people in the cafe were there mostly for the free WiFi and workspace. It wasn’t the environment I hoped for to connect with like-minded people.

Celtic Jam lessons

  • Be open to the possibilities and let go of judgements. I had expectations, and therefore was disappointed. Others there seemed quite content.
  • Wonder. Looking at all the chairs on stage, I Wondered if maybe on other nights, or even later that night, there would be more performers showing up to jam.
  • Try something new. The hot chocolate was delish and the coffee shop will be a place we come back to some morning.

#3 Native Plant Workshop

Native Plants seminar at nursery
An interesting way to learn about my new home state – by checking out a local nursery and their seminar on native plants.

On a sunny Sunday afternoon I went to a nearby plant nursery for a workshop on ‘Native Plants’. The speaker is known for his knowledge, and has a book on the plants that grow on the nearby mountain called Mary’s Peak. I love plants, and the overview helps me understand the local fauna as well as the differences between what I am more familiar with back East. People attending the seminar have yards for planting, and seemed to have a bit more knowledge about the topic at hand.

Plant lessons

  • Change is hard, and shows up in unexpected ways. I felt frustrated not having a yard or anywhere permanent for planting or investing in seeds for the future. While I know I chose this lifestyle, this past passion of mine now has to find new ways to express itself.
  • Connections are not always instant. I made an intention to meet someone. I had an excuse for meeting the teacher and purposefully introduced myself. While friendly enough, I distinctly received the impression that some people are better with plants than other people.
  • Things take time. Like sowing seeds and nurturing them to grow into strong plants, friendships blossom when the environment is right.

#4 Find local Native American Community

Indigenous People's Day at OSU
Ms. Whitebear speaking during the Indigenous Peoples Day proclamation. The photo below is the building dedicated to education about Native American culture and history.

One of the local newspapers had an interview with Ms. Whitebear. So on the original list, I had written down to meet her specifically. What underlies this is my desire to connect with a community similar to a group of people my Adventure Partner and I grew to love over the years. This group of Native Americans (mostly from the Taino tribes) and friends enveloped us and taught us so much.

From the article, I learned Ms. Whitebear is the Associate Director of the Native American Longhouse Eena Haws, which is a center for education and community for the local college (as well as a resource for the greater community). On Indigenous Peoples Day I went there to listen to the town’s Mayor read (and then sign) a proclamation honoring the holiday. The presentation by the students and Ms. Whitebear was fascinating. Afterwards I introduced myself to her, but wasn’t able to spend any time beyond that. One of the professors said I could come back during regular hours and explore the Longhouse. This may offer me more opportunity to meet people in this community.

Meeting Ms. Whitebear Lessons

  • Follow what lights you up. While watching the students present their histories, I noticed how my whole body felt at attention. Unlike the plant seminar where I was sneaking peaks at social media. I know that I will return again, to try again to connect with this community and see where the adventure takes me.
  • My perspective on history has shifted. I no longer am at ease with the European version of history that has been taught in schools since people first started coming to North America. I don’t feel it’s revisionist, or that by including an older history we are wiping out what happened in the last 150-300 years.
  • Awkwardness is okay. Just try. I had practiced what I wanted to say to Ms. Whitebear, and it came out awkward. Instead of beating myself up and worrying what she thought, I appreciated that I tried. So what if she may have thought I was a stalker, or whacked out white woman, or potentially wanting to sell her something. Any story my mind can make up is just that – my story. How can I know what she thinks? All I know is I was being my true self, and what else matters?

Adventures in the ‘Hood – part 3?

adventures in the hood coffee shop menu

The next adventures that you expressed interest in will take time. The art open studio tours are coming up in the next few weeks. The ecstatic dance is on Sunday mornings (hmmm, will I get up in time?). The meditation circle has me nervous, as research has shown this may be a cult-like group. Maybe because I’m nervous, I will have to check it out first-hand (as I doubt there is any real danger involved). Are there any other ideas for Adventures in the ‘Hood you’d like me to try (think of ones that would inspire you to try too!)

To make the walking tour of old homes more of an adventure, I am considering making it into an event. Set a date, and see who shows up. If I can do this with fabric shops and chocolate stores in New York City, I “should” be able to do it here. What do you think? Let me know in the comments below!

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6 Comments

  1. Cathy Cordes

    I love the way you “go for it” Stacey! And have a lot of fun on the way. You are an amazing woman!

    Reply
  2. Lisa Davis

    Hi, love that you are always trying new things. Have you considered creating a living space in Wednesday for some plants in containers? I am working on that to replace my torn up front yard but maybe you can talk some of your learning from the plant workshop on the road with you.

    Reply
    • Stacey Newman Weldon

      What a great idea- a plant inside Wednesday! The Airstream has so much light, it could work!! Thanks Lisa

      Reply
  3. Harlow Pinson

    Regarding the “Celtic Jam”. Best not to call it a “jam” as it is not improvisational at all, and Irish and Scottish musicians tend to take this term as an insult or mark or someone who has not done their homework on Celtic musical traditions. The proper term is “session” or in Irish “seisiún”. It is a gathering of Irish or Scottish musicians playing sets of traditional regional dance tunes entirely from memory, combined with a fun social atmosphere of jokes, stories, occasionally dancers, and quite often good beer – the Irish term for this is “craic”.

    Use of written music is discouraged in a traditional Irish or Scottish session. Tunes are learned individually by ear, and played at Session completely from memory. There is a common body of tune knowledge that allows Irish musicians to participate in sessions all around the world. Seasoned session players will have hundreds of tunes committed to memory. Occasionally a beginner or “slow” will rely on music and I think that is what you encountered. They tend to be tediously slow and boring to listeners, but very helpful for learners getting started. Not at all representative.

    One of the really fun aspects of playing Irish music is that you can find and participate in sessions all over the world. People develop travel plans around this. There are even session camps where you learn from master traditional musicians during the day and participate in great session music at night.

    Probably the only place in Oregon you would find a decent trad session is Portland, and there is some serious Craic there. Quality of sessions in smaller cities will vary a lot. The best sessions tend to be in the biggest of cities

    You can find sessions near your location on https://thesession.org

    Reply
    • Stacey Newman Weldon

      You are such a wealth of information! It’s unfortunate the musicians and coffee shop inappropriately named their event. I will look up the Portland events!! Thanks

      Reply

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