Cracked Window

Only in Portland. That’s my reaction whenever I observe an example of what makes my city quirky and vibrant. It explains the unexplainable.

The slogan “Keep Portland Weird,” adorning bumper stickers and t-shirts, is catchy but implies intent to meet a predetermined goal. But weirdness here tends to be organic. Nor is it weird if you revel in it. More like “Keep Portland Normal.”

What’s normal? Take the telephones nailed to a power pole at Northeast 28^th and Burnside . I lifted the receiver of one. Written in neat block letters on the cradle was “Self Phone.”