June 28th was a Thursday and it was the start of the upheaval called "moving" that had become the 800-pound gorilla that robbed us of sleep and sanity. The days ahead would see us cram everything into a 22-foot diesel van and somehow make it arrive in Beaverton, Oregon, unpack everything and drag it all up to a 3rd-story apartment . Then would start the civilizing process of adjusting to a new area and adapting to the blending of Pam's and our lifestyles and demanding personalities -- not mine but Gabi and Pam's --. Thankfully, I had the foresight to get tickets to the Pendleton Roundup Rodeo and ZZ Top concert at the county fair to distract them from micromanaging me.
July 28th was a Saturday and, after a month of getting utilities, insurance, licenses and registrations, we filed into the "stadium" in Hillsboro's Washington County Fair to relax to the dulcet tones of that "little band from Texas", ZZ Top. As we found our seats (folding chairs), and after adjusted to the 97-degree heat and blinding late afternoon sun, the ear-splitting drum and guitar intro announced the opening and "under pressure" began the transformation of my room-mates into ZZT fans. Maybe it was the crowd, the music or just the relief of getting through the move, but it all felt like we were home and there was life after we "ran away and retired".
Joe
