Too bad there isn’t a superlative form for “unique.” If the grammar police let me say “unique-est,” I’d wear it out describing the KP. From above, the Key … more

I spent the best part of my 1960s childhood in a beach town outside L.A. We lived in a platted neighborhood that sloped down to the water, but it wasn’t fully developed. The road to the freeway … more

Like many families across the country, dogs hold a significant place in our family dynamic. Since before I was born, we’ve always had at least one dog in our pack. We’ve had a number … more

One afternoon back in the late ’70s, my husband Bill and I were resting on a little bench that used to be situated inside the Panda House at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. Through the big … more

“Stop getting out of bed,” I tell Violet every night around 9 p.m. “You need to go to sleep so you’ll feel good and have power for your day tomorrow.” I tell her to … more

It’s the early 1990s and we’ve gathered for dinner at Grandma’s house. Adults are talking in the kitchen while the teenagers lounge in the back room, debating whether there’s a Walkman amongst the presents under the tree. Somewhere, there’s a record player spinning carols by Andy Williams. more

As I entered the early stages of restless boredom, our modern conveniences conspired to provide distraction. Minor amusements were provided by the DIY restoration of the coffee grinder, a favorite chainsaw, the TV remote, a sewing machine and other malfunctioning amenities. more

Runners spread throughout southern Puget Sound, inviting headmen from the villages on the Nisqually and Puyallup Rivers, the Key Peninsula and the southern inlets, during this rainy season 166 years ago. more

Since its release on Disney+ July 3, I’ve been watching and listening to “Hamilton: The Musical” on a regular basis while anxiously awaiting the day when live theater is again a reality so I can see it in person. I was undoubtedly late to the Hamilton party but I quickly fell in love with the storytelling, the cast, the music, and the connection I felt between the show and the 2020 election already swirling around me. more

I came to Seattle in the spring of 1991 when I was 27 and somehow landed a part-time job tutoring teenagers. There was no good reason for me to be doing that, other than I’d had experience … more

The first time I swam in the Atlantic Ocean — actually, I never swam in the Atlantic Ocean or any other large body of water. When I was 6 years old a bunch of relatives on my mother’s … more

RAT 1 Hey kid, that popcorn is mine. Drop it. RAT 2 (Drops popcorn in order to speak.) Whoa, you must be the oldest rat around and I’ve seen a lot of rats in New Jersey. RAT 1 People come … more

I have given up hoarding coffee beans as a coping strategy. It was harmless and somewhat effective, but I have moved on. Learning to bake a good cake from scratch is my new diversion in this time of … more

It’s not as though Herron Island is isolated from the rest of the world. After all, our ferry, the 11-car red-and-white M/V Charlie Wells, plies the three-quarters of a mile between the island … more

Here on the West Coast, we’re witnessing the birth of an ominous new season: smoke season. more

It’s late summer, early fall. Temperatures went from the near-unthinkable 100-degree mark for a few weeks down to the 50s in the evening. It feels like a blast furnace when you walk out into … more

Nearly 150,000 people die each day around the world. On Wednesday Aug. 19, 2020 one of them was Hudson. He was 6 years old and lived across the street from us. My wife and I have known him almost … more

My daughter talked to a spider for 30 minutes at breakfast this morning. “I gave Spidey a sip of my chocolate milk!” Violet said, her grin spreading across the room like a … more

Just outside my office sits the Lakebay cemetery, a peaceful little plot of land tucked away behind a thick hedge and madrona trees. Bordered by the Lakebay Church, on a hill that backs into Mayo … more

Mindfulness can boost the quality of our lives in numerous ways. The question is, what is mindfulness? What does it do to spark “just being” in ourselves and our … more