December’s fog slowly fades, and the lazy sun struggles low above the horizon, falling back before it ever clears the tops of the holly and rhododendrons. If we can’t have a white Christmas, at least we get the florescent greens of winter, moss sparkling on tree trunks and sword ferns snuggling under cedars.
“I don’t belong to any organized political party – I’m a Democrat.” Will Rogers’ aphorism was never more true than this agonizing fall. Health care, climate change, industrial innovation – we had such hope a short twelve months ago, and now the new year will probably see us no closer to losing the grip which drug and insurance companies, and inefficient hospitals have over our health and economic well-being.
Closer to home (but still five hours away), Annie powers through her sophomore year at Whitman College in Walla Walla. Though still without a major, she proves daily what determination and hard work can accomplish. No sophomore slump for her; Chemistry, Anthropology, Chinese and Psychology are all seeing the relentless attack she brings to every endeavor. In her spare time, she played middle linebacker on the flag football team which won the Whitman intramural championships, the underdog “Munch”.
Shaine has stuck with SEIU, a large and growing labor union which emphasizes organizing forgotten service and health care workers. She spent much of her time in Montana, leading a coalition of groups bent on influencing health care legislation through the state’s Senator Max Baucus. Her highlight moment: criss-crossing the state in an ambulance, driving from town to town (they’re all small and far apart in Big Sky Country) pulling together rallies and headlines. Oh, and holding the megaphone to shout down the tea baggers when Pres. Obama visited.
Cody found a new opportunity when his employer, Iris Ink, felt the sting of our Great Recession. He now is developing a comprehensive web-based solution for small businesses needing to consolidate all their back-office business functions, such as payroll, human resource management, as well as sales. He remains in the U district in Seattle, driving his Smart car.
Cheryl had her graduation gallery showing in June at the Photographic Center Northwest, where her course work over the years has culminated in her certification. But her photo documentary “prison project”, featuring inmates and their newborns, continues to influence others in expanding ways. In November, the local PBS station aired an hour long documentary on the program. Her pictures and descriptions were featured in the show, as well providing cover art for the station’s magazine, and the DVD. http://www.protectivecustody.org/
Al has given himself completely over to his inner athlete. While remaining a part-time physician with Group Health, he is training and racing full time, having decided to go deep into Ironman Triathlon. This year, he achieved his highest level of success yet, winning Ironman races in Idaho and Arizona, setting the course record for his age group in each. He’ll be returning to the Big Island of Hawaii for his third trip to the world championships again next October, hoping to overcome the mistakes this year which led to a collapse from dehydration after 9 hours in the lava fields. www.bikrutz.org/triblog
Both Al and Cheryl recommend that if you read one book in the coming months, it should be Cutting for Stone, by Abraham Verghese. Intelligent, intricately plotted, with unforgettable characters, exotic locale – this novel is the complete package.