Another Hot Day

I remember some long hot summers when I was a teenager working on a Saint Vincent de Paul truck as a swamper in Seattle, long, hot, muscle straining days, picking up clothes and newspapers and sofas and chairs and refrigerators. After two weeks of just wanting to quit I started feeling really good and I started enjoying the work.

Still I could not wait for summer to be over and my getting back to the books. So I really admire the human beings who are digging and chopping and putting in some hard hours out here on Twenty Fifth and South Union.

They are some dedicated folks, doing what is necessary to have food on the table, clothes on the backs, and a safe happy home for themselves, their families, and friends.



Three Welcoming Young People

I had stopped at the US Bank branch in the Tops Store at the  South Mall to put checks in my account. The branch had not opened yet. I decided to use the US Cash Machine. I had failed to add up the total amount on the checks. I had no pen to help me get that total.

I did something I had never done before. There was a young African American woman sitting at one of the tables provided for folks to sit, eat, and read, and talk while shopping at Tops. I asked her if she had a pin, always thinking she might think I was trying to pull some sort of scam. She looked up, smiled, quickly checked her shirt and pants pockets, and, smiling sincerely, told me she did not have a pen.

I was pleased. She had taken time to help me.

Sitting at another table was a young couple, a bearded white male in his twenties, a white female with blonde hair. I spontaneously approached them and asked if either one of them had a pen, all the time thinking they would just ignore this burly, grey haired, older black man. They didn't. Neither had a pen, but the young man quickly asked the young woman to use her calculator to help me.

SHE DID THAT.  No frowns, no hesitation, she just cheerfully and quickly responded to my request.

I left Tops this bright Friday morning, realizing that the world I assumed existed, with these three wonderful young people, did not exist at all. I learned a lot. I am very grateful to them.

A Most Important Lesson

I am learning a lot about love serving as a chaplain at St. Joseph's Hospital.  Women and men, young and old, choose to constantly support their loved ones. The other day I had the privilege of taking two African American women up to their pastor's room. He was recovering from a very serious illness.
   Their conversation was loving and honest. He candidly talked about how he had failed to take care of himself and how his wife, children, and other members of the church went out of their way to tell him that they were concerned about how he looked and how he was behaving. Finally he decided to see his doctor who immediately got him to go to the hospital for necessary service.
    I cannot remember any time in my life as a minister when I had participated in such an honest interchange with human beings I served.
     I left his room determined to be a more open and caring human being. I am so glad to have had an opportunity to be with three human beings who loved God, themselves, and each other so very much.

Signs of the Times

Ah yes, it’s a voting year, a time to show how well democracy works, and how well Americans adhere to its principles.  This is a time for intelligent debates that put the People first, especially in such difficult financial times; a time to look at candidates, doing their finest for America and for our communities, models of dignity and good sportsmanship….

Who am I trying to kid?  It’s a brawl, money flying like fists, accusations and dirty dealings, lies, lies, lies.  It’s embarrassing.  It’s shameful.  What I see right now is a businessman’s civil war, stagnating Congress on both State and National sacred grounds.  Those who strive to win the right to serve their people need to do so with honour.  I don’t care if you’re running for the smallest position, or the tallest position, that you are the richest of candidates or the poorest, you need to constantly walk with honour and truth, humbly wishing to serve ALL the people…keeping your actions transparent and above reproach, to the best of your ability.  (Deep breath)  Isn’t it what we would ask ourselves?  Has everyone lost their compass, back at the last campsite?

Being involved with Lyme advocacy, we have spoken with and met our representatives many times.  We know who promises and who delivers, when we hold an educational/awareness event.  I am so pleased to say that Larry Seaquist (D) and Derek Kilmer (D) have both been accessible, have educated themselves on the growing problem of tick-borne infections, and do their level best in representing us.  In March I met Karin Ashabraner (D) and listened to what she had to say, liking her quickly.  She’s ex-army and a teacher, with good balance and grasp of issues.  I really felt she also listened when I was talking, accepting a Lyme education package that included “Under Our Skin,” the documentary that speaks for an invisible community.  The position she goes for, State Representative, is held right now, by Jan Angel (R) who has talked a good streak, but doesn’t show up on the Key, even when she’s promised to come to an event.  Her voting record is abysmal, but you should check all that out on your own.

So, the signs go up, in ditches, on lawns and fences…free speech!  Not quite free though…I see the Republicans have enough money for at least three signs to every Democrat’s.  I smiled when driving past the names of candidates I liked, especially when I saw a few for Karin.  Then one day…Karin’s were gone, yes, ALL of them, up and down the Key.  What I saw next made me ask my son to pull the car over so I could take a picture.  It was not the only time I saw this candidate’s signs rammed right in front of his opponents, making it all but invisible to those driving by.  Some of Larry and Derek’s signs have also been knocked over.  I say chaps, not a very good play!

Barely two inches away!

I would ask Jesse Young (R) to personally oversee the rearranging of signs up and down the Key Peninsula Highway.  I would ask everyone running to remember the calling that brings you here.  It’s not your business, it’s the Peoples.  Our responsibility is to respect the rights of one another, while crossing this great divide. The People need to educate themselves on the issues…the REAL issues, to find truthful, transparent candidates, candidates with honour worth respecting, and electing.

 If you wish to check out any candidates voting record you can go to  www.wslc.org  for the Washington Labor Council.

Valley Arts United's Gallery 3 provides island of calm by Puyallup City Hall

While there's a lot of news coming out of Puyallup City Hall this week, this one  has nothing to do with fireworks in the chambers of government, but a there's just as much life and color without the angst in a delightful little treasure of an art gallery tucked neatly under the same roof. So with that in mind check out Gallery 3 when you are in the area for a slice of local art, a haven of calm in temporarily rougher water.

Last Saturday afternoon I took the time after pouring through the fresh produce, bursting flower bouquets and specialty cheese at the Puyallup Farmer's Market to check out what was for sale behind the glass windows of this wonderful little space run by the same talented organization Valley Arts United which has brought the community the Premier Gallery, Arts Downtown and the Open Studio Tour.

Artwork I had the pleasure of seeing during my visit included an assortment of work by local artists: Anne Eft, Anette Lusher-Cree, Barb Ruble, Bella Yongok Kim, Cash Curtis Ashby, Gretchen Mottet, Jacque McWillis, Jerome Petteys, Joan Nicholson, Kazumi Divens-Cogez, Ken Strange, Kim Wilson, Lydia Strange, Mary Johnson, Mary Schossow-Schumaker, Patty McPhee and Tanya Lemma. As Gallery 3 is a cooperative arts gallery, artists such as the quiet and personable Jerome Petteys who was on hand to assist prospective art buyers that afternoon will offer a personal tour of the facility.

Petteys, a graphic designer who runs his own business during the regular week,  has chosen for this turn in the gallery to show a selection of finely detailed black and white pen and ink illustrations with a retro-feel, offering a polished and stand-out option to those guests looking for a little different spin in the otherwise more colorful parade of creativity which greeted this first-time, out-of-town gallery visitor.

Meanwhile local residents whether they enjoy the kind of headline grabbing events at City Hall or the gentler vibrations from aesthetic wizards plying gentler seas, will surely enjoy touching base with the talented mix of local artists at Gallery 3.

Home Again

Headed for Seattle today, June 14. Going to lead Catholic worship in my home parish (lived across from Immaculate Conception Church, 1952-1961). I celebrated my first Mass there after ordination in 1974. I was thrity four years old. I am looking forward to entering the doors, seeing folks old and new and learning with them how wonderful God is.

Thank You, Wonderful Folks Who Work At Target

Woke up this morning, checking out necessary medications I had to take daily and discovered that one of the medications was done five days before I would have gotten a call telling me that it was time to pick up the prescription. Called the pharmacy. I was greeted very well. I have been teasing with various staff members at Target Pharmacy for three years. They all (old and new members of the pharmacy team) are family to me. They know my name, always do their best to help me, and go out of their way to check in with me to see how I am doing. So I called. Told they would have five pills reay for me whenever I came to Target. Headed out five minutes later. Got to the pharmacy.

Five minutes later. I was headed back home. Check out one of the folks that work at Target taking (I suspect) a much needed break:

I really appreciate the service every person who works at Target gives me.