There are SO many local theatres in Portland, it’s hard not to find SOMETHING of interest every week. During the Fertile Ground festival, I saw the fabulous world premiere of International Falls at the CoHo. This weekend, I was back at the theatre to see Bill W and Dr Bob. It is based on the story of William Wilson (Bill W.) and Dr. Robert Smith (Bob S., or “Dr. Bob”), the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous and their wives Lois Wilson and Anne Smith, creators of Al-Anon.
In 1929, the famous New York stockbroker William G. Wilson crashed with the stock market and became a hopeless drunk. Dr. Bob Smith was a surgeon from Ohio, who had also been an alcoholic for thirty years. In fact, he often went into the operating room with a hangover. Through an astonishing series of events, Bill W. and Dr. Bob Smith met and formed a relationship, each helping to keep the other sober. The two went on to form AA together. The show told this story in a delightful way, and also managed to give me pause.
We had dinner after the show, and I skipped the usual glass of wine. But, as fortune would have it, I had already planned on skipping that wine long before I’d watched the show. I had purposely given up alcohol that weekend, and so it was especially poignant to see Bill W and Dr Bob on Sunday afternoon. Was that coincidental? Probably not, as I find my life always runs little themes that get woven into glorious threads and ribbons. But I was giving up alcohol for another reason: The Cleanse.
For the past year, I’ve been trying to understand a friend’s regular “fasting”. Why does one “fast”? With food such an important part of experiencing the company of friends and family, and being part of the foodie town that I live in – why would one chose to go without? Is fasting about religion? Or diet? Or some other mystic goings on?
But it finally hit me – the rest of the world may “fast” – but here, we “CLEANSE.” And after reading one of my younger zumba pal’s blog – I wanted to CLEANSE as well!
I quote my new “facebook friend” Yoona: “I remembered that long ago, my friend Kim had extolled the virtues of the juices at Portland Juice Press—in particular, a milkshake-like drink that came at the end of each day’s ration of juices. I researched the company online. Six juices a day, for three days? With daily delivery to my house? How hard could that be?”
My box of juices have arrived this morning at my office. So begins THE CLEANSE.
Francene has over 30 years in the home mortgage business, and she loves being part of the Portland community. If you’re interested in homeownership or refinancing, give her a call today to schedule a consultation or find out more about Portland mortgage options.
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