Jackie Davis is 12 years old and lives in McKenzie Bridge, Oregon. She likes to catch snakes and salamanders in her yard. She’d like to work in claymation when she grows up. In late summer of 2020, the Holiday Farm wildfire swept through the valley where she lives and they had to evacuate. Her house wasn’t damaged by the fire, but more than 500 other … Continue reading Jackie Juniper Davis
Jackie Herman is a retired hair dresser from Brooklyn, New York. I met Jackie in Mackenzie bridge, Oregon, where he was spending time with his daughter, Kelly, after losing his wife of 59 years. We talked about his first date with Sheila, the business they ran together, and his journey of learning how to live without her. Fair warning, if the f-word bothers you, it … Continue reading Jackie Herman
I’ve been thinking about hope lately. How it sustains us, where we find it, how we share it with others. “Love after loss has given me hope.” There is hope in watching the snow slowly recede from the landscape, knowing that spring is on its way. There is hope in seeing a city street renamed to honor an unsung hero whose recognition was long overdue. … Continue reading Hope
Kelly Britt Davis works in a rural health care facility in Blue River, Oregon. After navigating the first six months months of Covid, the clinic burned to the ground in the Holiday Farm Fire, a wild fire that consumed 175,000 acres and more than 500 structures at the end of Labor Day weekend. Our interview started by talking about the wild fire and moved on … Continue reading Kelly Britt Davis
We’ve been watching the invasion of Ukraine unfold on our television screens for nearly two weeks now. We’ve had a front row seat to the human tragedy whether we want it or not. We’ve seen our leaders craft swift and robust economic sanctions that promise to cause some political pain, but don’t seem to change the course of events. My social media stream shows posts … Continue reading What can we do?
It’s mind-boggling to watch the steady march to war. To see the powerful leverage their position and lie as the world looks on. To bear witness to the human toll as innocent lives cower, or flee or die. To what end? How many resources will be squandered? How much blood shed? How many lives destroyed? And for what? For a grudge to be settled? An … Continue reading Ukraine
Darcelle is the oldest working drag queen in the world, at 92 years of age. Also the owner of Darcelle XV Showplace in Portland, Oregon, Darcelle’s entertainment career has spanned more than five decades. “If you’re not happy with your family, with your friends, with your job, where you live, the city you’re in, move on. Find the place where it all works for you. … Continue reading Darcelle
Derek Thompson is an activist in Portland, Oregon and the founder and Executive Director of Voices4Justice, an organization dedicated to bringing together concerned community members…clergy, law enforcement and elected officials…to engage in meaningful conversation that can change the relationship dynamic between opposing parties and factions. “Even if we don’t get along, if I saw you fall in the street, should I laugh at you? Or … Continue reading Derek Thompson
We’ve made a transition in our lives. Another one. It was Karen’s idea, but it didn’t take me long to get on board. We’ve downsized again. This time into a van. And his name is Vinny. (Go ahead and play with that for a while…and if you can correctly guess the reasoning behind Vinny’s name in the comments below, you’ll be entered into a drawing … Continue reading Think big, live small
To be honest, I didn’t think we could do it. We had a month to move all our earthly possessions from a 1,200 square foot storage unit to a couple of 300 square foot spaces. It was part of our effort to draw a line between our personal lives and our new nonprofit. Exhibits and books in one unit. Farm equipment and personal belongings in … Continue reading Impossible
