Part the First: In which our heroine has a most distressing adventure, but all ends happily, if wearily.
This year the Things had several must-attend activities scheduled at the same time that Your Humble Narrator absolutely had to be in Portland, so Team Gimlet divided and conquered: I rode the train down to Portland Thursday afternoon, and when the evening’s events were done, The Gimlet loaded up the barouche and drove south, arriving in Portland at 1:30 in the morning. After the stress and bustle of preparations, the train ride was relaxed and scenic, and had I but known it, Laurel Ann of Austenprose was riding the same train! We did not discover this until we were introduced in the hotel lobby. But that is getting ahead of the story just a little.
A Northanger Abbey-inspired journey would not be complete without a Gothic kidnapping of the incompetent heroine, and so it happened that when I found the MAX light rail station, I very stupidly got on the wrong train, which promptly whisked me away from downtown Portland and over the Willamette River. However, rather than scream or faint (although the inclination was there, as I watched downtown disappear into the distance at an alarming speed), I managed to ask a Local Young Person for directions, and she very kindly helped this Befuddled Older Person to the correct MAX station.
I was then hopeful that the return trip would be uneventful, but I had forgotten about the possibility of banditti, another popular Gothic motif. After a conversation with a potentially aggressive panhandler, and the concern that I might miss my stop again, I decided that a walk was in order. Happily my chosen point of disembarkation was not too far from my final destination, and soon I was within the welcoming walls of the hotel and met by old friends and online acquaintances (who feel like old friends even if this was our first face-to-face meeting).
The first of many visits to the Milsom Street Emporium was in order, and not because the rigors of the journey demanded retail therapy. Rather, the Antique Fashionista and her husband (also known as Aunt M and Uncle C) had secured a booth in the Emporium and I wanted to meet up and find out how the day had been for them. The Antique Fashionista was hard at work, as she would be for the next three days, stepping away from her booth only when it was absolutely necessary. The Fashionista Dogsbody had already been sent on several errands to procure nourishment and art supplies (an excellent shop just happened to be close by). Team Fashionista was fatigued from travel and their labors, but were happy to report that sales were brisk, even at this early pre-AGM stage.
I was a member of a group of ladies called Team Tilney, which would be presenting a panel discussion Friday morning, before the official opening of the AGM. We had planned to rehearse our presentation Thursday afternoon, but all of us, including our top secret mysterious guest panelist, arrived late for one reason or another. When we finally assembled, we had less than an hour to work, but the first run-through went well. After rehearsal we adjourned for a much needed dinner at the Heathman Restaurant. The food was exquisite (the desserts were especially heavenly) and the conversation delightful. Even when jet-lagged and travel-worn, Janeites are the best sort of company. My evening was far from over as I had to wait up for The Gimlet to arrive, and when he finally did, we were both glad to get a few hours’ sleep before the big day.
Next: Mystery
Visit the Gimlet Gallery to see more photos from the AGM.
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