Rebekah and I worked together, though not closely, at PlattForm Advertising. She was a Client Services rep who was occasionally called on to translate press releases targeting Spanish-speaking publications in southern California. She was also a gifted writer and follower of the literary trade. Not long after departing the company, she contacted me about undertaking some freelance PR assignments for Helix. Those conversations never translated to any projects. I was thankful when she called back several months later and told me about an opportunity with Review.

This feature about the Missouri Bank project in the Crossroads District was especially appealing to me given its complexity and the mixture of various art forms with architecture and, of course, history. (The Crossroads is quickly becoming my favorite part of the city. If the River Market doesn’t watch out, it could be surpassed.) The architects on the project were fascinating and the lengths they went to in regard to reflecting the district’s ties to the arts was extraordinary.

I sat my taperecorder down on the drafting boards at the Helix offices and interviewed the project leads, scribbling details into my pocket notebook. While most project managers tend to focus on their trade secrets and sounding intelligent, I was instead told a story about the building along Southwest Boulevard that was being almost completely remade. Once an auto repair shop that looked more like a lump of clay, it was soon to be a new branch bank location that more or less embodied the Crossroads’ artistic spirit. I was sold.

This sudden flourish paralleled another recent explosion in my freelance career. An article I was supposed to write for Urban Times fell through last week, leaving me with an average-sized historic piece to write. I scheduled a few interviews and was crusing along when an unexpected assignment from a local arts-focused magazine, called Review, came through. Than, after accepting that piece, another Urban Times article was floated my way. Now, I’m back to my usual monthly alottment of three pieces.

Funny how it happens that way. When I thought I was in for a slow down, it tuns out I can actually expand my portfolio a tad. I’m trying not to think about all the work – the words – now. I’ll find them. After all, there’s a paycheck in it for me. It’s a lot easier to be ready for a downpour when you can afford a decent rain slicker.