I received an email from Tracy Peacock, Executive Director of St. Vinnie’s here in Pierce County. I’ve known Tracy for about twenty years. We met in Rotary. Her father was a Rotarian also, so she grew up believing in helping the community. Tracy said, “For those of you helping those in need with food requests, […]
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Red, White, and Blue – Powerful Film About Racism and Life
Peg and I agree that the first episode of Small Axe: “Mangrove,” and the third episode: “Red, White, and Blue” are fantastic, but the second episode, “Lovers Rock” was mostly bewildering. I really liked the “Lovers Rock” comment from Reader GG about the five-part series: “Ok, finished watching, and it seems like an insider/”fly on […]
Letter: Lost, Lost, And More Lost
The Christmas Tree farm, in addition to cut-your-own Christmas trees, featured a corn maze to get lost in, and a pumpkin patch. Because the tractor had broken down just as we were placing our tree on the tractor’s trailer, we decided to wait for a replacement vehicle given the tree my wife had selected was […]
Across the Fence: Caroling
I come from a musical family. We were all singers, and wherever we traveled, we sang traditional songs and, in Christmas season, carols. My father and I improvised harmonies. Advent Sundays were a foursome, sometimes with guests, singing along to my father’s guitar strumming. And, of course, as a semi-pro soloist, I sang on stages […]
Letter: No Shortcuts To Success
In simple computer language, the three keys in the accompanying photograph are shortcuts. Pressed in conjunction with other keys, they enable various functions to be performed more quickly, almost without thought, thus making learning easier. Or so we think. Upon discovering my computer keyboard the other night, my almost-two-year-old granddaughter took the time to pry […]
Letter: The Church In COVID Crisis At Christmas
The Nativity on the shelf was missing all the usual figurines except for a single angel perched on the manger roof prepared to make an announcement that this year would not be heralded by it, much less by a multitude of heavenly host. A policeman guarded the entrance. There would be no admission. Not this […]
People are still willing to share, but they have to have something to share
“St. Vinnie’s is here to help. If you need emergency assistance to help pay for basic needs, such as rent, utilities, gas, food, clothing or links to other resources, we want to help.” It’s December and winter will soon be here. Executive Director Tracy Peacock recently shared this request from a desperate young woman: “I’m […]
Toy Rescue Mission Needs Help for Young and Old
A life time ago, I was president of the Tacoma Junior Chamber of Commerce (Jaycees). I was invited to a meeting about the economy and Christmas. Helen Mader and six or seven other people along with me gathered to discuss the situation. Our community was still in the doldrums with Boeing layoffs and on top […]
Wide Open Spaces and the Love of Camp & Counseling
Campers and Camping means the enjoyment of nature and living! Growing up in the 1950s meant camping out. Usually we would travel to either the dunes and scrub brush near Ocean City with our Whitworth relatives, or to Packwood with our neighbors the Bidisons. Millersylvania State Park (just south of Olympia) was a great memory […]