DOWNTOWN

Driving home from choir rehearsal last night, I missed the freeway turnoff and ended up in downtown Portland at 10 p.m.. Petula Clark soon showed up in my head, singing:

When you're alone and life is making you lonely
You can always go -- downtown
When you've got worries, all the noise and the hurry
Seem to help, I know -- downtown
Just listen to the music of the traffic in the city,
Linger on the sidewalk where the neon signs are pretty.
How can you lose?

The lights are much brighter there,
You can forget all your troubles, forget all your care
And go DOWNTOWN (swelling music)
Things'll be great when you're DOWNTOWN (are you singing along yet?)
No finer place for sure -- DOWNTOWN (belt it, baby)
Everything's waiting for you.

I'm not really a city girl, but I love going downtown, even accidentally. There's an energy in the air, even at night, even from my car, that thrills me. The city is so alive! There's so much to explore and discover! And Portland is my favorite city; the people here exude a passion for life that inspires and embraces.

So maybe I'll see you there
We can forget all our troubles, forget all our cares
So go -- DOWNTOWN, things will be great
When you're -- DOWNTOWN
Don't wait a minute for -- DOWNTOWN
Everything's waiting for you.