Saturday, June 21, 2025 | Day 2

Thanks for the picture, Clay!

Yesterday marked the first day of summer, so of course it was raining and 54 degrees in Portland, Oregon today.

Our departure playlist:

1. Hey Jude - The Beatles

2. Father and Son - Cat Stevens

3. Stand by Me - John Lennon

4. The Sound of Silence - Simon and Garfunkle

5. Your Song - Elton John

6. Yesterday - The Beatles

7. Desperado - Eagles

8. Home - Xavier Rudd

9. Home - Edward Sharp & The Magnetic Zeroes

10. On My Way Back Home - Band of Horses

* The last three songs were suggested by Jonny’s brother, Joseph, when he heard Xiomara was feeling sad about leaving.

Xiomara is very upset about leaving her bunk bed and her stuffies. She says the people she will miss the most are Birdie, our neighbor, and Primrose, her baby cousin. While stuck in traffic on I-5 in Wilsonville, OR Xiomara was crying profusely and repeating, “I want home! I want to be on our white couch snuggling Mom!” Kaleo, on the other hand, has only been eager to leave. All day yesterday and this morning he followed us around the house saying, “Me ready to go in van!” As Xiomara cries, he is sitting without a care in the world, quietly watching cars pass by in the rain.

Upon arrival at Joe and Eloise’s house, Xiomara’s sadness quickly slipped away. She was delighted to feed chickens, pick blueberries and cherries, and play inside by the fireplace as we visited with our friends. We couldn’t have hoped for a more welcoming, peaceful, and restful start to our trip.