IT IS IN THE GIVING THAT WE RECEIVE THE GREATEST GIFT...

It was by chance that I found a woman's iPod along with her American Express card during a recent shopping trip to a local grocery store. Realizing how upset and concerned she would be upon discovering her missing items, I immediately dropped them off at the Customer Service Desk. Hopefully the owner would be immediately notified, and she could return to the store to reclaim her lost belongings.

The following day, I went to a Lowe's Hardware store to shop for a list of items my husband needed for a project he had scheduled. After completing the purchases, I returned to my car, got in the driver's seat, and put the key in the ignition to start it and to begin the drive back to my home. That was when I discovered I had left the headlights on, and that my car battery was dead. When I glanced up, I noticed two young women parked next to me and both were pointing at the hood of my car in acknowledgement of my predicament. Before I could even consider what I needed to do next, one of the young women appeared in front of my car with a set of jumper cables. It seemed to all happen so quickly. In less than a minute the two young women had my car back in running order. I felt such gratitude for the kindness they had shown, and they, in turn, expected nothing back for going out of their way to help me. I have always been a firm believer in practicing the Golden Rule. The rewards of honoring the sweet simplicity of that rule.. just might be returned to you sooner than you could possibly ever imagine.

A First Romance

The year was 1962, and I was eighteen years old and living in a small town in Eastern Washington. I had just finished my freshman year at the local junior college when I received an invitation to spend the summer with a friend and her family that had moved to Seattle. It was an adventurous and exciting offer to consider, and after discussing the possibility with my parents, I accepted the invitation. I had never spent any significant time away from home before and looked forward to the experience. Once settled into my new location, I hoped to find full time work during those months that I lived there. Not long after my arrival, my dream of a city job became a reality when I accepted an office position in a downtown department store. Once onboard with my new job, my employer suggested I continue working beyond the summer months and into the early autumn of the following year. I agreed with that arrangement since I wanted to save money to attend another year of school. There was so much to see and do and learn about life in the city. It seemed as if I had all of eternity to think about making other decisions related to my future.

Forty-eight years have passed since those carefree days of my youth. The summers of 1962 and 1963 were a time for experiencing independence and of learning about responsibilities. It also was a time for dealing with something I was not prepared to handle…an awakening to the emotions and feelings of the heart which occurred with my first romance.

I had never done much dating while in high school and I never had any great expectations of meeting anyone special. At least, not just yet. It all changed one warm summer night in June of 1963 when a chance meeting brought a charming young man into my life. I felt an instant attraction to him from the first moment that we met. We started to date, and it was always with his plans in mind of what we would do and where we would go. I was the newcomer in town and he was the home town boy that had grown up in the area and knew his way around the city.


One Sunday morning my phone rang. He called to ask if I would be available to see him later that day. I always looked forward to being with him and within a short time he arrived at my doorstep. He smiled as he took my hand in his as we walked down the front steps from the house where I lived in the University District. It was a beautiful sunlit day and he suggested we walk to the nearby campus on a stroll together. It was a perfect choice for the afternoon, and within a short time we arrived at our destination.

While there we spent time walking and talking, enjoying the sunshine and one another’s company. When we entered a tree lined pathway he stopped, and without speaking, touched my face and then kissed me softy and passionately. I had never known anyone that made we feel like he did. It made my heart race just to be with him. Emotionally, I wasn't sure what was happening to me…or that I might be falling in love with him. All I knew was he made me feel appreciated and valued in ways like I had never known before.

We shared but brief moments together that summer of 1963. It was a time of innocence and of passions never destined to evolve into a mature love relationship. Other life choices sent us in different directions and our paths never crossed again. I will always remember that summer romance as a special gift. What once was would never be, yet the memories of him will never be lost or stolen away from me as they are a part of my heart and soul forever.

Bye, Bye Blackbird!

It was Friday, March 12th, around 6:00 p.m. when I noticed flocks of Crows flying in formation during the remaining daylight moments of the day. I had just pulled into a parking space at my local grocery store when I glanced up and noticed the birds flying overhead. Their flight pattern originated from the north and they continued their journey by traveling south east apparently directed by whatever force of nature was guiding them to their new destination.


I paused to watch them and even attempted to count their numbers as they passed through the area. When I reached an estimated number of somewhere around 300 strong, I decided I had done enough watching..and counting and got out of my car and walked towards the store. When I crossed the parking lot, I could hear cawing cries called out by some of the birds in flight, so it wasn't entirely a silent journey for the more vocal members of these flocks. When I reached the entrance to the store, I noticed even more would soon be arriving overhead as they made their way in this seemingly never ending event that was taking place in early Spring.

I couldn't help but wonder what the "purpose" or mission was for these birds migrating together so late in the day? Not one person coming or going from the store appeared to be phased by any of this unusual bird activity. I felt I had witnessed a unique moment with nature by observing these feathered beings and in doing so gained a new awareness of their strong and phenomenal presence in our communities.

Thoughts on Flight 261

On Friday, January 29, 2010, The Seattle Times front page edition carried the featured article: Alaska Flight 261/ 10 years after the crash.

The headline read: 'A part of you dies, and you will never get it back'.

It began by stating that most of the victims had spent their last days playing in the sun. It continues...that knowing that, it provides some comfort to the families and friends who have leaned on each other through the past l0 years of heartbreak and outrage since the crash of Flight 261.


It goes on to say that some of them, which they refer to collectively as "survivors", have found peace and acceptance, but others burn with anger over their personal losses. Some say the silver linings and deeper meanings of God's plans remain mysteries to them. Many believe love does transcend death in the end. And most have learned to live with a broken heart.

The survivors of Flight 261 have found ways to heal, cope and endure because they've had to.

Some found solace in their faith. Many cling to the good memories or see evidence of their loved one's spirit around them.

Many survivors also said they find some comfort in knowing that their loved ones were together, with family, or best friends, when they died.

Or that their last days had been glorious.

Many of them have found strength in each other.

The widow of Alaska's 261's pilot was quoted as saying that she has found purpose and pleasure in raising money and serving as chairman of a memorial scholarship fund created in memory of her husband and the copilot of that fatal flight.

She said the story needs to be remembered.

The grieving journey is a part of their lives.

I know all too well about that of which the survivors speak. Life, truly is very fragile and whether we give much thought to it or genuinely appreciate just how precious it is, when a loved one suddenly dies and is taken out of your life forever, you are instantly thrown into a state of disbelief, indescribable pain and a chaotic kind of reality.

It has been almost eleven years since we lost our twenty-two year old son, Scott, as a result of a sudden death accident. He was a passenger in a vehicle that left the road and struck a tree, killing him and two friends upon impact. During that early period of loss, I can best describe my pain feeling like my own heart had been ripped out of my chest. Just like the 'survivors' of Flight 261, and all of us walking the journey following the sudden deaths of our loved ones, the harshness of our initial loss softens over time, but we will never forget them and our reality remains as painful to us as if it had only happened yesterday.