2014 Festival of Flowers, No. 3

Never expected to see someone on the way to catch fish pushing his bicycle across Pioneer Courthouse Square during this year's Festival of Flowers. Never. Yet, such a sight is quintessential Portland. One of the things I love about this city is how easy it is to be yourself--no one messes with you as long as you're not creating some sort of problem or trouble for your fellow citizens.



See her? That little girl in the shorts set? She's stopped on a dime admid the flower-formed maze.



I wonder if the sprinkler's being on while folks were on the square surprised him. Could be that's what he's looking at. My best guess, anyway.



Isn't he a nice looking man? And check out those socks and sandals. This guy knows how to wash whites, or, at the very least, someone in charge of his socks knows how to keep them whiter than white!

Happy New Year!

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What better way to celebrate the arrival of 2013 than with these two photos of a talented and brave little girl. Her rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner in front of thousands made my heart sing with hope for the future.

Saturday evening, as one of a very small group of season ticket holders, I got to enter the Rose Garden Arena 30 minutes early and take a seat court side, during the team's shoot around. Nearby the Blazer stunt team worked out. And in the midst of all that activity, this little girl rehearsed the national anthem. She sang beautifully, unperturbed. Once she had finished, lots of people applauded.

 

Just before the basketball game began, from my seat on the front row of the upper bowl, I took this photo with my iPhone as she sang to the crowd. Loud cheering and clapping broke out as she finished that last note.