lita and I leave this Saturday, "God willing and the creek don't rise" – as Hank Williams was fond of saying. We will be on the Seabourn Sojourn. This is the second of the line's new class of ships. She was built in Italy and launched in 2010. This ship is 650 feet long and has capacity for 450 passengers. All of the rooms are ocean view and most with balconies. There are 330 crew members and 225 cabins with eight…
I was sworn in as an attorney in 1959. After 55 years of representing people, and not corporations, I have retired from the practice of law. My wife Lita, who has been my law partner as well, has retired with me. Today is the first day of our change in our life work. We have never played golf and don't plan to start, but we have many unfinished and planned projects to occupy us. It's been a great privilege representing…
Last Sunday the Catholic Church canonized to new Saints: Pope John 23rd and John Paul the 2nd. These were two very different pontiffs. The easier one for me to evaluate was John who was so clearly a holy and decent man. There are a large numnber of Catholics who are John Paul supporters and who believe him to be worthy of sainthood. There are also a large number, including me, with serious reservations about naming him a saint. So, to…
This week there was a cloud of rain that moved across the water towards our house followed by a heavy rain. When it finally stopped the sun broke through and there was an amazing rainbow in bright colors starting at the water level at the end of Vashon Island and curving through the sky to a point a mile away where it ended in the water as well. We came out for a better view and after enjoying the unusual sight…
I probably should report the status of my recent problem when my knee replacement joint gave out requiring surgery to replace a broken piece. It wasn't a huge problem to repair, but required opening the knee to do it. The result is that I am now recovering from the knee surgery with minimal rehab. I can walk on it and have no pain, but I use a walker as a precaution until released by the doctor. I'm grateful it wasn't something…
I've managed to damage the interior of one of my artificial knee joints. As a result I will have surgery this week on the knee. We won't know the seriousness until the surgeon takes a look. I won't be posting for a while as a result. In the meantime, here is Emily Dickinson's poem (1830-1886) entitled Surgeons Must Be Very Careful: "Surgeons must be very careful When they take the knife! Underneath their fine incisions Stirs the Culprit—Life!"
This is a compelling story by Daniel James Brown not only because of the excellent story telling but because it involves the University of Washington crew that went to Berlin and won the eight oar crew Olympics race of 1936. For me, it also had a personal connection in the stroke on the boat was Don Hume who graduated from my high school in Anacortes. All of the members of this crew were from Washington. Places like Anacortes, Squim, Lynden and other places…
My father in law, Hollis Barnett died on March 22nd 1990. He was a unique and wonderful man. You can read about his extraordinary wife Betty Barnett and more about this couple whoI grew to love. https://paulluverajournalonline.com/weblog/2010/03/i-write-this-in-memory-of-my-wifes-father-hollis-hall-barnett-whodied-in-puyallup-washington-on-march-22-1990-at-the-a.html Hollis Hall Barnett died in Puyallup, Washington at the age of 83. Hollis was born in Buckley, Washington on May 3, 1907 and spent his younger years at Mt. Rainier National Park where his father, Herman "Herm" Burke Barnett, was a National Park Ranger….
Unless you are as old as I am I'll bet you've never heard of "Wrong Way, Corrigan." About 76 years ago, on July 17, 1938 at 5:15 AM a 31 year old pilot, Douglas Corrigan, climbed into the cockpit of his airplane and flew from Brooklyn New York for Los Angeles. At least he had reported before leaving that Los Angeles was his destination that morning. Instead a little after takeoff the plane turned sharply over the Atlantic ocean and disappeared into…
The tragic loss of the Malaysian airplane brings us face to face with death. We are all familar with death in some form whether it is a friend, spouse, family member or even a loved pet. Unfortunately, the kind of support the survivor gets from family and well intentioned people isn't helpful. Sometimes people think they are doing a favor by encouraging the survivor to get over the death and move on, but they have no idea what that person…
