About to land at the Portland International Airport, I could see the top of Mt. Hood peeking out from a pillow of billowy fog. My sister is a big fan of Mt. Hood and her annual birthday ritual is to travel there to celebrate her special day. I traveled to Oregon recently to celebrate my sister and nephew’s birthdays. But my primary reason for going was to reconnect with this place, this land where I am rooted, and to re-energize, revitalize, and restore my spirit. I’ve called Virginia home for more than 30 years, but my home state is Oregon. I was born and raised in Portland, Oregon. Since moving to Virginia in 1988, I’ve made several trips to the West Coast to visit favorite haunts such as Multnomah Falls in the Columbia Gorge, the Portland Rose Gardens, Chinese Garden, and later, to Willamette National Cemetery, where my parents are …