One Night Count....

This morning at 2AM I met several hundred other people downtown to participate in Seattle/King County's "One Night Count". The count was sponsored by the Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness; this was "the counts" 30th year....

King County has one of the nation's best-established point-in-time counts of homeless people. The One Night Count remains the largest community-organized count in the United States. 978 volunteers and 30 teams covered our county. Here are two volunteers and co-workers,
Jenny and Kelly.

The 2010 One Night Count also collected information from select hospitals about emergency room usage, and from Metro night owl buses operating throughout the county.

We were assigned grids and our job was to walk each section, street, park,
lot, within the grid.

2,759 people were counted--adults, children, families, elders all living on our streets or in cars.
After we finished, I came home at 6AM to my home and went to sleep;
That's all I will say.

Life Continues....

In four days it will be the first anniversary of our friend Ken's death. A year ago at this time, I was in Vienna and Kim had flown back to Seattle to be with Ken and his family. So much has happened in the last year...We've returned home to Seattle, gotten resettled, become reemployed, and are encountering what each new day brings--some of it I like, some of it I don't but isn't that what life is about? I could rant about politics and the state of the world and nation but I will spare us all of that...."Well done, Rachel!" (Sister Wendy here; I am checking for typo's since Kim is absent.)

And speaking of Kim's absence, she is currently in Florida visiting her father who is living in an assisted living facility ; I don't think that he knew she was coming for a visit. I will leave you with this image that Kim shared with me by phone.

Upon her arrival at the facility, she saw her father giving dancing lessons to those around him. He had his back to her and didn't see her come in. She walked up to the woman he was dancing with and said, "May I cut in?"

These are the moments to savor. Thank you.

Cannon Beach, Oregon

Question to Self: Where's the most comforting & beautiful place you've ever been?
Self: Hmmmmmmm?. Italy? Chile? Russia? Spain? Argentina? Austria? Hungary? Sicily?...
Self continues: How about the place Kim and I return to year after year:
Cannon Beach, Oregon, United States of America.
Self concludes: Yes, that is correct.

Hay Stack Rock, Cannon Beach Oregon.

Cycles of Life...

A happy beach stroller...

Contrasts....

On Christmas Day, friends Toni and Amanda, Kim and I prepared food to take to some homeless encampments in the Seattle area. We took baked chicken, a spiral ham, mashed potatoes, cookies, oranges, water, and socks.

We estimate that we gave out about 25 meals. We looked for people who tend to be overlooked and more out of the way. If you can imagine a hierarchy of homelessness, we chose the ones on the bottom of the rung--hidden away, protected by freeway overpasses and thick layers of blackberry bushes. This shot below is one of the most "out there" settings that we went to. All the folks were very appreciative and surprised. Of the socks, one gentleman said, "socks are more important than blankets..."

The next night, Saturday December 26th, Kim and I hosted a dinner party at our house.

We had 10 wonderful guests--we were surrounded by laughter, friendship & caring.

Before I could become homeless, I would have to go through many layers of family & friendships.

Believe me when I say, I am so very grateful.

Kim was a hit with her dessert--a pumpkin cheese cake.

Peter took a break from the festivities to let the massage roller bring him comfort.

One last bit of gratitude: Kim just was hired for a very challenging job with the Washington Department of Social and Health Services. She starts Monday, January 4th.
She was chosen from a large pool of applicants and I am very, very, proud of her.

Kim won't say she's proud of this...she says that she is proud of all of our dinner guests who, with all the red wine and beets that were served, didn't get any on the table cloths....
We all have our own points of view.

Best to all of you; Happy New Year--may it bring you health and happiness.

Nursing Care....

Today I did an outreach with one of my co-workers who was headed to provide nursing care to one of his clients. She lives under one of the Seattle bridges and has been dubbed "The Bird Lady" because she tends to take in pigeons and often can be seen with one perched upon her head; she is also always barefooted.

The day was cold and the wind whipping under the bridge made it fiercely cold and I felt as though I was in an alternate universe. We brought her and two of her birds to our van where my colleague (who is a nurse) worked on her leg and one of the bird's legs--it was broken, the bird's, not hers. But, she herself was bruised from a fall and quite uncomfortable. Another of the birds started flapping its wings all over the place so and I put my arm out to give it a place to perch while its family got nursing care.

It was very hard for me to leave that scene; surreal but very real.....

I never know what my day will bring.

PS Her bird's name is Davey Rebel Rainbow or Davey Rainbow Rebel...I'm not sure.

Christmas Ships....

For sixty years, Seattle has had the tradition of holiday "Christmas Ships". They are sponsored by our Seattle Times and is a yearly fund raiser for local social service needs and causes. The ships travel to different areas of Lake Washington. Last night they were in our Madison Park neighborhood and Kim and I met friends Deb and Peter, to watch and listen.

The ships have a chorus on board and they sing out and from their hearts.....

In addition to paying to ride the ship, they offer a number of free tickets to social service agencies and organizations so that everyone has the opportunity to get on board.

They had a bon fire--which, truth be told was a bit tiny and consequently, lame....
But, it was a cherry effort! (editorial: Sister Wendy)

We walked to the event, about 3 miles round trip, and along the way
enjoyed the decorated homes.

Some folks go all out....

This the home of Bill & Melinda Gates from across the lake...
They too have decided to splurge on lighting this year.

These colored lights were actually round balls and not holiday "bats 'a flying...."

Push the play button

Kim, Hermione, Sister Wendy, and yours truly, Rachel send you all fantastic wishes for a comforting holiday season and a healthy, Happy New Year.
We wish us all peace and goodwill; may kindness abound.

Thanks. Thanks. And many Thanks!!

Festival of Lights....

Last night was the last night of Hanukkah...and Kim and I spent it at friend Jill's beautiful home.
Everyone brought their own menorahs and it was just a beautiful and lovely sight.
Jill is in the lower right hand corner and is speaking with her daughter, Kate, as the candles were being lit.

Here's sending you joy and hopes of comfort.