Ashland, love, and frosting
posted October 1st, 2009 by EverywhereistDeep down, I think we all want to be brilliant. We don’t really talk about it. But I suspect that every single one of us quietly works on our novel, or practices our Oscar acceptance speech and thinks that maybe, if the stars aligned and we got a couple breaks, we could really do something wonderful.
Ashland makes me feel this way.
I don’t quite know what it is – it might be that everyone in town is an aspiring something-or-other: a musician or an artist or an actor. It might be that the things that everyone longs for – whether it be fame or fortune or just a really, really good bagel – don’t seem so out-of-reach there. It might be because the entire philosophy of Ashland is that nothing should hold you back. Because if a dusty little town in rural Oregon can be transformed into an artistic hub and tourist destination (and make it into The New York Friggin Times) there might just be hope for all of us.
Man, do I love it down there.
Rand and I headed down for our first wedding anniversary. We got married in a vineyard just outside of Ashland. So, understandably, my love for that town is inherently tied to my feelings for my husband. I love them dearly, perhaps irrationally, and I even find their flaws and quirks charming. In my esteem, there’s no other place to be, no other person with whom to be.
I think I just barfed a little. Sorry.
This is what Ashland does to me. It makes me wax poetic, it makes me fall stupid in love again, it makes me think that there is nothing more reasonable than running off there and opening up a little sweet shop called “Much Ado About Frosting”. I would name a red velvet cake after Ophelia. Life would be good.
And while I truly wished that I could have used a Shakespearean sonnet as inspiration here, I’m afraid his works just don’t lend themselves to blog posts (Sorry, Will). So I’ve taken a page from Elizabeth Barrett Browning, instead (Just think of this as a sequel to “Lady Geraldine’s Courtship”. Which, in a lot of ways, it is. ).
So … how do I love thee, Ashland? Let me count the ways …
1. We get to see Matt and Kim in Portland on the drive down.
-
2. Local businesses with awful, wonderful names, inspired by the Shakespeare Festival.
-
Not pictured: Puck’s Doughnuts (No, I’m not kidding)
-
3. The Ashland Springs Hotel at night.
-
-
5. Random puzzles at The Plaza
-
6. The Sunday Morning Weekly Hippie-Wackjob Lovefest, at Key of C Bagels
-
7. The incredible creativity that goes into naming the grocery store.
-
8. The mimosas at Morning Glory.
-
9. Lithia Park
-
10. The Green Show
-
11. The Railroad Crossing
-
12. The hills at sunset
-
13. Bloombury Books
-
14. Chocolates in bell jars at The Enchanted Florist
-
15. The I-hope-they’re-never-updated motel signs
-
16. This girl.
-
17. The first and last courses at Chateaulin.
-
-
18. The Tuesday morning Farmers’ Market
-
-
19. The you’re-not-supposed-to-take-pictures-so-I-snuck-a-couple-in Elizabethan Theatre
-
20. And, of course …
Jew + porkchop = happy everywhereist.
See? That’s all it takes to make me happy.
October 1st, 2009 at 10:15 am
Having grown up in a small town with a great theater, my initial reaction when first visiting Ashland was, “Hey, just like home. The theater and … nothing else.” My opinion of the place has changed a bit over the years (partial credit to you) and I can safely say that, though small, Ashland is infinitely more charming, with more going on, than the Turdtown of my youth. Because after the theater (PCPA Theatrefest, if you want to know) there is the “Spearmint Rhino” which is the strip club that doesn’t have a liquor license so you have to drink at the bar across the street, then stumble over to ogle the ladies.
Also “Jew and Porkchop” is now my nickname for you and Rand.
[Reply]
October 1st, 2009 at 10:56 am
I’m with Philip on this one. “Jew and Porkchop” is just too good to pass up.
But I have to ask, is that snail that you’re devouring at Chateaulin? Because that’s just gross. Chocolates in bell jars at The Enchanted Florist however, is not. That’s some delicious goodness.
[Reply]
October 1st, 2009 at 11:36 am
I have to admit my first reaction to this was “Okay, who are you, and what have you done with the real Geraldine???”……but I totally get why you love Ashland – it sounds wonderful! Except for the snails.
[Reply]
October 1st, 2009 at 11:40 am
This really makes me want to go to Ashland. of course, I want to travel, just like you are, but Ashland sounds amazing. Thanks for sharing your story… and your pictures.
[Reply]
October 1st, 2009 at 12:49 pm
When you mentioned ‘Will’ I thought you might be talking about me. Ah well.
I love that this is about a place I’ve been. I love the proximity to wild west Jacksonville. Six shooters and Shakespeare. What more could you want?
[Reply]
October 1st, 2009 at 3:16 pm
1. I love snails.
2. Trisha – I included a line about barfing, so you’d know it was me.
3. Philip – “Chop” was what my uncle called me for years. Apparently I was in the kitchen while my mom and aunts were cooking, and for the entire night I smelled like porkchops. I must have been two or three years old.
[Reply]
October 14th, 2009 at 7:13 pm
ER, Philip, I interned at PCPA in college. Don’t knock it!
[Reply]
June 9th, 2010 at 9:02 am
[...] meet someone who also realizes this. And you will travel together. Everywhere. Wineries outside of towns you have yet to fall in love with. Winding streets in Venice. One-way streets in Milan (down which you are headed the wrong way). [...]
September 23rd, 2010 at 10:11 am
[...] saw the signs, he insisted we go. I was sputtering with excitement. It turned out to be a lot like Ashland, but with more marzipan. The town was founded in 1911 by a group of Danes who spent a few nasty [...]
June 6th, 2011 at 11:37 am
[...] Ashland, Love, and Frosting. Quite simply my favorite place on the planet. [...]
September 18th, 2011 at 4:15 am
FYI: Its not that we want to BE brilliant, we just want others to think we are and to say so and to also tell others that we are brilliant. (Only my humble opinion, hopefully all spelled correctly). (Its true, I suffer from typo OCD)
[Reply]
Everywhereist Reply:
September 18th, 2011 at 9:41 am
Oh, totally true. Being brilliant is not enough. THE WORLD MUST KNOW. Hence, blogging.
[Reply]
September 18th, 2011 at 4:18 am
Can there ever be too ‘Much Ado About Frosting’? I think not (sorry, I am on a comment jag today)
[Reply]
September 18th, 2011 at 1:10 pm
Please tell me you were able to catch a glimpse of the Shakespearian man (alive) in bronze … his hat, hair, skin, clothes, accessories, etc.?! He’s one of my favorite people to look for in the Ashland Plaza!
Glad to hear you enjoyed your trip.
[Reply]