The Oregon Trail

We joke that Brittany and Shane followed "the Oregon Trail" west. I remember the night they announced that they were moving to Portland. We sat talking over late night cups of coffee, at the same table in the same restaurant we always held these sessions. They took turns listing facts and figures they'd read online about how progressive Portland was, how green living, cultural diversity and a true appreciation of the arts had come together to form a west coast utopia.

To be honest with you, I never thought they'd go. Since the day Brittany and I became friends she'd always fantasize about moving to one glam city or another. First it was New York, then New Jersey, I'm sure Seattle was in the mix at some point, and so on. I don't know what it was about Portland, but it stuck. The two took additional jobs, and started pinching every penny, they researched everything they could about where they were going and how they were going to get there. Most importantly, they set a deadline. They wanted to be on their way to Portland and out of Illinois by New Years Eve 2009.

December 27th, outside Shane's apartment, we said our goodbyes. Everything they owned was crammed into the back of Brittany's 20-year-old Oldsmobile which seemed to sag under the weight. Later we would all speculate our amazement that "Brenda" made the trip from Illinois to Oregon.

It didn't set in that they were gone until they had arrived in Portland. They had made the trip in 5 days, the entire time I was in my own little land of denial telling myself that "they weren't in Portland yet" so they could still return. After all, they hadn't lined up an apartment or even employment yet in Portland, which would signify their true residence in Portland. I tried to think of it as my friends being on a really long road trip. Luckily the thick layer of denial I'd caked on wore away the more settled Brittany and Shane got in their new home.

I send them letters and mix CDs and we keep up online. I haven't visited them yet, soon though I hope. Their move has inspired me though, I think that by following their example I could soon move too. Something that seemed impossible to me for so long. But that is a story for another day.