Friday Tidings

It happened in quick succession—the knock on the door, the ride in the squad car, the averted glances and silence from the cops escorting her. She’d been told about an altercation. Her husband of ten years, and a cop for nine of them, had been taken to a hospital on the east side.  A woman cop stayed with their two kids sleeping in a bedroom down the hall. The trip across the city took longer than her knotted stomach could take. She squeezed her eyes shut and prayed. Arriving at the emergency entrance, a plainclothes cop gently guided her into a side room. The hospital chaplain was sitting nearby.   Looking into their eyes she knew her husband was dead. Before every shift they’d hug and pray, but beyond that, she knew little about his routine. Did they ever talk about his getting hurt? Sometimes, but he was more than a cop, he was her husband and a father too. They had a life together.  It would take months to realize...

He was easy to spot on the busy street—an old man carrying a huge flower bouquet with one arm while using a sturdy wooden cane with the other. I caught up to him at the traffic light and as we waited side by side, I exclaimed how wonderful the flowers smelled.  He looked over and proclaimed that the irises were the most fragrant of all. I nodded with a smile as I took off across the street. He caught up to me at the next stoplight—reminding me that my fast pace didn’t really matter with Seattle’s synchronized lights impeding my effort to rush.  This time he smiled and said, “Caught you.”    I laughed and then slowed my pace to match his. He explained that he’d purchased the fragrant bouquet for his wife. He knew Pike Place Market would have irises—his wife’s favorite.   Their anniversary was today, so he’d taken the ferry to come across for this special gift. It was a splurge, but after sixty-two years of togetherness, ...

1. Caution : In the days following 9/11 being cautious, even wary, was my new normal, especially when traveling. But over time that evolved into a greater appreciation of those willing to stand between me and those wanting to do harm. 2. Respect: After 9/11 I gained a far greater respect for the armed forces. I have friends that have lost family members in Iraq and Afghanistan, and others now live with life-altering injuries because they volunteered to protect me. And even knowing the dangers in our world, young American men and women still volunteer to serve. That defines American greatness. 3. Protection: Life in America now involves airport screenings, Terror Levels, and government scrutiny, but I can think of nowhere else I’d want to live. 4. Free Speech : Social media exploded in popularity post 9/11. Public opinion is more public than ever before. While I don’t agree with every opinion, policy, and law, I can still pledge allegiance to the nation t...

photo: PeninsulaTrips.com Four cars were traveling scenic Highway 101 at FIFTEEN miles per hour slower than the posted speed limit. Completely oblivious to the string of traffic behind them, I observed the driver and occupant’s heads swiveled towards the tall trees, fingers pointing to the mountains in the distance.  I drummed my own fingers on the steering wheel and muttered disparaging words to myself. photo: PeninsulaTrips.com They continued their pokey pace in a close-knit pack—preventing me from having any opportunity to pass them. Not prone to road rage, I instead settled into tourist mode.  Green trees stretched a hundred feet up into the blue skies and rugged mountain peaks stood at attention. When had I gotten so used to the scenery that I could be impatient with those who hadn’t?   photo: PeninsulaTrips.com Living in one of the most majestic places on the planet should be reason to rejoice, not lament slow-paced d...