Bread from Fuller's

My parents, Walt and Alice, went to Fuller's for breakfast for so many years that they became friends with Suzie, the owner.  They also became friends with many of the customers.  Often Suzie would send mom and dad home with a loaf of her home made bread.  When my mom died, Taylor and I had breakfast there and told Suzie the news of mom's death.  Suzie gave us the loaf of bread that she would have normally given to mom.

With the memory of Walt and Alice in the back of my mind, Taylor and I dropped in to Fuller's several days after scattering Alice's ashes.  Suzie seemed really happy to see us.   As we were settling into the car after breakfast, Suzie ran out of the restaurant bringing us a loaf of bread. This bread is delicious. People go to Fuller's because of Suzie's warm personality and for her bread.  We were so honored that she shared her bread with us.....just because we're related to Alice. See, Alice, your memory lingers on.

Thank you Suzie.  Thank you Alice.

Good Bye Alice

Before he died in August 2006 my father told my mother and me that when the time came he wanted to be cremated and to have his ashes scattered on the trails in Forest Park.  After retirement Mom and Dad spent many happy years hiking those trails. Their goal for many years was to hike 5 miles a day.  Forest Park has miles of trails and they visited many of them.  As my dad's health failed and hiking was no longer an option, my mom, dad and I would often park near the trail head on Cornell Road and enjoy a maple bar and a cup of coffee. Leaving his ashes near  this favorite spot, across the canyon from our old house seemed like a perfect ending for my dad. It took two years but Mom, David, my cousin Maren, Geri Zinkan the caregiver, and I went up to the park July 2008 and did exactly as my father wanted.  We enjoyed maple bars and coffee. We also enjoyed stories of Walt, Do Good, Grandpa, Daddy.

Over the following years, my mom told me that she also wanted her ashes to be scattered near daddy's.  I assured her that I would do that for her.  However, when she passed away March 3, 2011, David and Syvart  were unable to stay in Portland long enough for us to go to Forest Park together, and I didn't want to do it without them.

 Six years after mom died,  David and Syvart are in Portland at the same time.  It's time for all of us to have a proper goodbye to mom, Grandma, Alice. We got up early in the morning to arrive at Forest Park trail head on Cornell Road before too many day hikers arrived.  We might have found the tree that has Do Good's ashes, and if we didn't we were close.  We took turns scattering the ashes and said goodbye.  We then adjourned at a picnic table and sipped coffee and maple bars. Telling stories of Alice was bitter sweet.  We all miss her kindness, patience, intelligence, sense of humor and the love she gave us.

We miss you Alice, but you are always with us.

July 10, 2017- Taylor, Jamar, Syvart and David. Saying goodbye to Alice.

 We miss you too Walt.

July 24, 2008- David, Geri Zinkan, Maren, Alice and Jamar saying goodbye to Walt.