Back to Portland 1970–1990

Abstract

Returning to Portland at the end of January 1970, we moved into the Judkins’ house. We rented it for the first year and then bought it for a very reasonable price. From four of us who lived there in the beginning, I am there alone now. It is a two level mid-century modern home situated on a 2 acre park like setting. The house has unique characteristics such as the giant windows overlooking the green trees and large lawn. Tryon Creek, a good sized stream, runs through the property. In the yard, there is a bomb shelter that Judkins built in 1962 during the Cuban crisis. My wife, Bohunka loved to take care of the garden and I helped her with some of the heavier work and mowing the grass. The house is about 4 miles from the hospital. We loved the privacy of our home. When time allowed, we went skiing at Mt. Hood or to the beach. In August 1972, Charles invited us to go with him to climb Mt. Whitney in California, the tallest mountain in the Continental US. Only Eva joined me because she wanted to get more experience in driving. She got it, but found long distances quite tiring. The hike was memorable, mainly the night on Mt. Whitney. We reached the top quite late in the afternoon and Charles decided to stay overnight and descend the next morning. With Eva, we found a small dent on the surface for us to lie in. Sleeping bags protected us from the cold and wind. We were quite comfortable, but overwhelmed by the closeness of the sky and millions of stars. It was an unforgettable experience. This was my last vacation trip with Charles (Fig. 9.1).