Rambling, restless thoughts.

Here we are in 2024. Forty years since George Orwell’s novel, 1984, cautioned us to beware how truth and facts can be manipulated. The novel was published in 1949, his last completed novel. My, oh my.
“Perhaps one did not want to be loved so much as to be understood.” George Orwell, 1984.

I hearken back to the song, “Christmas in the Trenches,” by John McCutcheon, remembering the remarkable event in 1914 World War I; truth, genuine humanity.
“We shall meet in the place where there is no darkness.” George Orwell, 1984.

Ah, today would be my Dad’s 104th birthday. 2024. It is fun to remember him, how he supported my various endeavors, as well as tried to teach me to play golf then gave up as I was a bit random and dangerous with swinging golf clubs. He took me out in his log truck for first time when I was about 8 or 9. He taught me to be safe and enjoy the excitement at the same time. I even got to climb to the top of the load of logs! Wow!

Humanity. This mosaic on the wall was a delight to find as my friend and I walked the streets of Langres, France, last year. It is on the corner of Rue Claude Forgeot. We could see no identification or information on it as to who created it or why or when.



Creativity.
Art.
Time and effort.
Sharing.
Beauty.
O la la!


To my knowledge, my dad never traveled outside the U.S., although he was born in Saskatchewan. His family was in Seattle by the time his younger brother was born about a decade later. He was stationed in the U.S. during his Army time in WWII.
Dad, and my mom, would be pleased that I am such a blood donor. Yup, I’ve donated gallons over the last few decades. They were big advocates of leaving the world better than you found it and modeled that behavior by their own volunteering and giving. Ah, humanity finds it way to us, hopefully.

2024, May this year bring you challenges to grow from and joy to bloom into.

How Do You Be So Brave?

Inside Passage, British Columbia
photo MDessein
These kids work hard every day just to stay alive.
To live, which I take for granted each day when I get up, dawdle, feed my cats, do some laundry, and never think “What do I have to do to stay alive today?”

These kids have medically complex issues that I cannot begin to explain, like having heart surgery for birth defects within 48 hours of being born then five more surgeries over the next three years, being paralyzed, having a brain injury, childhood onset of scoliosis; these few examples do not touch on the myriad of illnesses and challenges these children and their families face.

Yesterday, I was fortunate to attend the 11th Annual Stanley Stamm Camp Guild Fashion Show, a fundraiser for a summer camp founded by Dr. Stanley Stamm for kids ages 6 – 14 connected with Seattle Children’s Hospital who could not otherwise attend a summer camp due to all their medical care needs.

A Fashion Show, you ask? Yes, fifteen of these children came on stage modeling outfits donated by a large retailer. Many of them came on stage alone and did the stroll around it twice, some had help. Some in wheelchairs, some having their hand held, a few of them sashayed by themselves, a couple others had a volunteer or staff member walk beside them. Miranda, who was too shy to talk with one of the MC’s, did a lap around the stage by herself. Matthias waved, did a couple thumbs-up, and shook his booty in the course of his two laps. From his wheelchair with the huge wheels, Tucker had witty responses to questions. Serafina sang a song she wrote. And Joseph.

Joseph is about 12 years old, tall and slender, blind since birth, he walked with his taller-than-he-is walking stick in his right hand and a volunteer guiding him by holding his left elbow.

How many times did I get teary-eyed watching these children be so brave? Couldn’t tell you, as I lost count. Before each child came on stage, one of the MC’s, a longtime volunteer at Children’s, gave a brief synopsis of the child’s medical history and some of their favorite things. The things these children have done to get through another day, and then do it again the next day is remarkable to me.

Such young ones to work so hard to be alive.

Stamm Camp allows these kids to be kids: paddle-boats, pizza, tacos, fishing, swimming, horses, arts & crafts, archery, games, being outdoors, campfires, music… and freedom from many of their daily concerns. The Stamm Camp Guild is a special guild that raises money solely for the Dr. Stanley Stamm Camp. (If you are interested, donations are gratefully accepted: 206-987-2153.) In addition to the medical staff, there are 200+ volunteers who make this camp happen each year for these kids. Some of the volunteers are now adults who were in the camp in their youth.

Dr. Stanley Stamm photo by MYNorthwest

Who was Stanley Stamm? I’m glad you asked. Dr. Stamm founded the pediatric cardiology department at Children’s Hospital as well as pioneered treatments for kids with cystic fibrosis. When he died last year at age 93, the Seattle Times quoted his son-in-law who called Dr. Stamm, “the Mr. Rogers of pediatrics.”
Treat kids like people, not patients was one of his primary tenets.

After the Fashion Show and a few minutes of closing chat from the MC’s, there was the Fashion Models Finale – all the kids came on stage with some volunteers and helpers. We audience members cheered, clapped, hurrahed. All those on stage waved and clapped back at us.
Joseph was front and center. He handed his walking stick to his helper and raised both his arms in a great open V for victory and smiled.

Did I cry? You bet I did.