[Wobbling Into My Past by Kit Bowen was submitted to us via gardenhomehistory@gmail.com on February 1st, 2024. Thanks for this new chapter, Kit! You can read Kit’s first chapter Kit Bowen.]

Obviously Thomas Wolfe had never been to Garden Home or he wouldn’t have written (in 1940) that, ‘You can never go home again’ and then follows it up with a half dozen reasons why. No reason to look it up. It seems to me that Mr. Wolfe was not a happy man. Just the name ‘Garden Home’ has enough pull to bring anyone towards our village.

In May of last year I was faced with finding one more place to pound in my tent pegs in for my last  curtain call. I have made a habit of moving in all directions in this crazy roller coaster called LIFE. Garden Home, to Raleigh Hills, to Vietnam 68-69 (horrible camping trip) Eugene, Balboa Peninsula, Corona del Mar, Laguna Beach, Lake Oswego ( where Marty and I raised our sons) back to Raleigh Hills, Tigard, and now the final anchor has been thrown out at the Aaron Frank Estate in Garden Home.

For me to even be drooling at 74 is a major miracle, (another story) let alone living on the estate of the grandson of the original founder of the best Department Store on planet earth, Meier and Frank. This move was very emotional because it’s now my generation’s turn to down size. I’m two generations down from Cork Ireland and I seem to keep all things from part of those three centuries.

I ended up filling up 3 dumpsters full of memories, selling the hot rods, and motorcycles etc., etc., etc.

I was a basket case.

Six  months into this God grabbed me by the ear, dragged me to the sidelines, and sat me on the bench.

“What is it Kitrick that you don’t know about you can’t take it with you? Besides, it was never ever yours in the first place. Now move over and let me drive. This chapter is going to be great!”

So now I’m living MY favorite quote,

“There is nothing more honest, beautiful, and loving than the heart of childhood.”

In May of last year I pulled the biggest u-ball in my life and headed back to my childhood. As I passed my Century old Grade School I slammed on my binders and glanced at the Frank Estate entrance, minus gates. Last time I was here was 1956 and I had to sneak in. As I crept through the majestic 100 foot Fir Trees and the acres of putter green cut grass towards the Frank Mansion, I felt as if I was getting into a warm shower after I had plunged into our freezing Pacific ocean. I had been on the Hi-Way to hell for the last 7 years and now I was truly home and I could breathe fresh air once more. The estate had been developed into condos and Mr. Franks Horse Harness racing track had turned into the Rolls Royse of Dog Runs. The Pool had also been downsized from 50 meters which Mr. Frank had built not just for the children in Garden Home but also for our Olympian swimmers to prepare for the 1924 Games held in Paris.

Two hours after I walked into the Mansion where the managers have their office I walked out with the keys to my beautiful condo. It was situated on the pond where Geri Frank and his friends used to skate on, and has now gone natural with beautiful trees, plants, beavers, ducks, finch, doves, and heron. ‘Squints’ the cat has the Bently of all the Catbird Seats on the estate. My living room and den both have picture windows right on the lake. For me it had everything I needed to get well with my new knee replacement, a beautiful pool, exercise and weight room, and the start of the Fanno Creek trail with our own private gate!

Whenever I walk it I stuff my pockets with dog biscuits,walk through the gate,and start my walk with century old homes in a forest on one side, where all the roads dead end off Garden Home Road. On the other side is the back 9 of the Portland Golf Club. One side is still in Black and White, the other is in color! I would venture to say that God is a much better driver than I am.

Continuing story will include the big freeze we had on January 13 and how it connected to our forefathers  in the previous Century. A very generous tip of the hat to the Garden Home History project for preserving  Garden Homes heritage, reaching back to the 1800s.