The Fifty Second

My friend, Brian R, and I drove to Seattle Saturday to celebrate with members of our graduating class from Seattle Prep (those whom I definitely consider some of the best and brightest young men (Seattle Preparatory graduates, Class of '57, when Prep was an all boys' school) I was ever so very fortunate with whom I had a chance to spend some of the most important years of my life. We quietly remembered the members of our class who had died, told some old, old stories, laughed and teased and ate and drank and had a good time.
I had a chance to talk to some of my friends' wives (graduates of Holy Names and Forest Ridge...still girls' high schools), and hear the stories about the rolled up skirts and the nuns who checked out the necklines of their formals before the big dances and the movie theaters where one could sit in the back and do some smoking and have a little fun. I enjoyed myself, learned a lot, and enjoyed sharing and feeling the love. I am already smiling thinking about our fifty third gathering.

Tacoma, I Am So CHEESED

After primarily visiting the Proctor Farmer's Market this season and getting organic produce delivered from Terra Organics, I finally made it to the downtown Tacoma Farmer's Market this last Thursday morning. The market was great (as usual), lively, and bustling with customers, vendors, gawkers, families, and downtown business people. I made my traditional purchases at my favorite farm, Terry's Berries LLC (delicious red and golden raspberries and a variety of summer squash), got my daughter's traditional snow cone purchase (bubblegum flavor), and got some fresh crusty bread from a local baker.

Then I got totally CHEESED.

Not the cheesed of slang (mad, P-O'd) but literally I fell in love with the beautiful cheeses being sold. Various goat cheeses and artisan cheeses abounded from a bunch vendors. And the samples flowed generously. I stopped at one vendor where I sampled a cheese variety that had the taste of a buttery, melt in your mouth, mild white cheddar. This particular cheese was able to be melted easily or sliced for a beautiful cheese plate.

One bite--sold!

Now, I'd plug the vendor normally, and will, alas in the future. We devoured the product so fast and the wrapper got thrown in the bowels of the recycling bin.

Variety seems to now be the spice of all the local farmer's markets. For this localvore (perhaps, Tacomavore), what a treat.

Oregon Lavender Festival

I spent this weekend roaming the highways and byways of Oregon, going from farm to farm as part of the Oregon Lavender Festival 2009. If you are interested in reading about my journey, click here.

Dear President Obama

Several weeks ago my then four-year-old grandson Gabriel came to me asking how to spell Obama. A few weeks before that at dinner out of the blue he had asked my husband and I if all the soldiers just went home wouldn’t there be peace then? When he brought the subject up again two days later I told him that he ought to write a letter to the President and tell him his idea.

Three weeks went by before he came to me with paper and pencil (I got him a pen) and asked how to spell Obama. His patient Mamae sat with him and made him sound out every word he wanted to write. It went something like Dear President Obama, If you let all the soldiers go home then there would be peace. Sincerely, Gabriel Francis Casey-Aguinaga. I briefly contemplated writing a note of my own to include with his explaining that this was the singular work of the mind of a four-year-old alone, but by the time I asked if he’d sealed the envelope it was too late so I addressed it, put a stamp on it and the next day put it in the mailbox in front of the house we share with Gabriel and his parents.

Many more weeks have passed. This morning I left for Oregon to attend the Oregon Lavender Festival. This afternoon my son called me saying that Gabriel had something to tell me. “Remember when I wrote the letter to President Obama?” Of course I remembered. “I got a letter from him today!” He sounded so excited! I told him I couldn’t wait to see it when I get home on Monday. When my son got back on the telephone he told me that one of Gabriel’s comments had been “It’s just like the President is right here in the room and we’re having a conversation!”

I had hoped that eventually Gabriel would get some sort of response from the Oval Office. My son says it is a form letter, but I will decide for myself when I get to see it on Monday. In the meantime I have a very happy and impressed grandson.

There's Gonna Be Girl Trouble in August

My friend Tracy told me that Tacoma's homegrown, old time fave Rockabilly band,
Girl Trouble is playing at Wright Park in Tacoma next month. I'll post the details when I know 'em.

I shall be there, jumpin' and jivin'.

Here's a little something to wiggle to.

Summer Reading

I always have a tall stack of books waiting to be read. For me summer is an opportunity to read that I don’t get the rest of the year. Just being out of school doesn’t mean I have no responsibilities, but I manage to get in a book or two of summer reading. Our Neighbor Kim has said that she’s reading Barbara Kingsolver’s Animal, Vegetable and Miracle this summer. I’m just finishing up Tom Brokaw’s The Greatest Generation Speaks, the sequel to his first Greatest Generation book. What are you reading this summer?

Keeping an Eye on Iran

To get an idea about how Iranians are using technology to spread dissent check out “Rebellion Network” on the Australian Broadcasting Company’s Mark Corcoran. Click on "Rebellion Network" to watch. It is a 25 minute video that is very worthwhile. It also gives an insight into the Basji militia which has been responsible for the violence against protestors.

It is important that the world consciously watch what is happening in Iran. If you can do nothing more, watch. Keep watching.