The Sellwood Bridge (see below) in our neighborhood is old. Eighty-five years old, and badly in need of replacing. The west slope is failing, and the bridge is falling apart. We avoid the bridge as often as possible, but when we do have to cross it, we say a little prayer, open all the windows for quick escape in case we plummet into the Willamette River, and then drive like mad. The county has been looking for funding since 2004. Yesterday, was a groundbreaking ceremony for the new bridge. The project architects and engineers have visited the 5th grade students at Ava's school to talk with them about the design, the process, the environmental impacts of the bridge and also to help the kids make bat houses that will be hung on the new bridge. Ava and another 5th grader were chosen to give a short speech at the dedication.
Ava practicing with all of the microphones.
Waiting in anticipation.
Receiving instruction on the microphones. I think there were at least 5 microphones.
Ava meeting the mayor, Sam Adams. I realize this is a bad picture. You'll need to take my word for it that Ava REALLY is sitting behind the stooping man in the black jacket. If you look very closely, you can just see her hair and coat. Plus, all is not lost; I did capture an essetial part of Portland: protesters with signs.
The crowd was pretty big.
Two very short video clips of the speech. The girls stole the show; they were funny. At one point, Mat saw a man throw his head back in laughter.
When Mat and I arrived at the park to meet Ava and her classmates, she informed me she had a headache and was starting to feel nauseous. She was getting a migraine (she's had 4 before). She decided she could stay and finish her speech. She was seated next to the former governor of Oregon, Barbara Roberts, in the VIP section behind the podium. I was getting pretty nervous, as Ava's color worsened. At one point, she turned toward former governor Roberts and I thought Ava was going to lose her breakfast all over her. Luckily, Ava made it through her speech and home...barely.
Both girls did a fantastic job. We're really proud of Ava, especially considering the circumstances.
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