my dad is cool

my dad had surgery on his finger recently, (don't laugh, fingers are legitimate body parts too) up at OHSU, so he is staying with us for a week, until his post-op, while he recuperates. I tell you, it's not exactly like a weekend at the spa here, we are BUSY, and loud and rascally, I wasn't sure he would be able to handle it. He used to be pretty fun, but lately he has been kind of quiet and grumpy (lately=the last decade or so). Usually when my folks come, my dad is on good behavior for a few days, and then threatens to leave about every 3 minutes until their actual departure.
This time something is different, it may be the meds that they gave him for pain (possible), or that he is excited to spend some quality time with us (without my mom--likely). I have been trying to include him in everything we do, since a major reason of less than ideal behavior is usually due to boredom.
Today he loaded up with me to go pick up Layla from school, and waited patiently in the car while I went inside. When we got back on the road, I spied a blue Volkswagen beetle (circa late 60s) so I gave him a "slug" (duh). It just so happened that the light turned red and we ended up right next to the bug. Dad motions for the (rather young and lovely, not that I noticed) guy to roll down his window. Here we go. "Hey dude! your car just got me punched!" says Dad. Young and Lovely just laughs (silly old man), luckily now our light turns green, so I start to pull away. Dad is still yelling at this kid across 4 lanes of traffic, something about how his lights weren't even on. (DAD! do you even know the rules to slug bug? There is only 1, and it doesn't have anything to do with lights)
He then turns to me and demands french fries. I whip around and find a drive through. We pull up to the speaker box, he leans over me and says "WE WANT FIVE DOLLARS WORTH OF NOTHING BUT FRENCH FRIES!!" (I don't know if you remember this about Dad, but he thinks that the speaker is more like a tin can telephone and he has to somehow project his order loud enough for them to hear it through the wires)
The drive through guy repeats his order, (which I thoroughly enjoy, since of course they don't sell fries by the pound, and also since it is THE BEST order ever!) and tells us to pull forward. We get the fries and pull back out onto the road. AC/DC comes on, so I crank it up and we start howling to Back in Black and drumming on the dash. Random people on the sidewalk give us weird looks, and we just smile and wave.
I am having a great time until the song is over and Layla insists that I "change it back to Coffee House". Geez, back to real life.

you won't believe this,

but not only did we survive, I fell in love. Again.

with bright, vivid colors, free, public art, living tradition, and simplicity. With fresh, delicious food, not being in charge, beauty in the details, and things too good to be true. With the possibility of the future, and once again, like every morning for the last 15 years, the love of my life.

it is so ridiculously amazing here, I am almost jealous of MYSELF!!

I decided to try blogging a little about the trip while I am still here this time, for a better chance of the story ever being told.
Warning, you will most likely hate me after you read this, so proceed with caution, and you may want to pour yourself a drink. (I know I am!)
OH! It's happy hour, I will have to update you later!