Closing Time

Below: Bowling with the people from the Center for Whale Research. From left to right: Adam, Courtney, me, Erin, Katherine, Ken Balcomb, and Kathy.

Well, today is officially my last day with San Juan Safaris. It's hard to believe that the summer is pretty much over. People are leaving. The days are getting shorter and cooler. And the residents have taken off... I may not see them for a while.

I'm starting to pack up my stuff and it's amazing how, when we take a look at our lives, it boils down to "stuff." I think sometimes we get so caught up in the "stuff" that we miss what's really important in life. (Like God, family, and friends.) I guess I'm committing to my new little mantra, "Don't get stuff. Do stuff." Life isn't about wealth, possessions, or power... it's about what we do. Things fade; actions remain in the hearts of those you touch.

Sorry to be brief on this one, but here's the plan:

I get interviewed by Dan McSweeney http://www.ilovewhales.com/ for a job in Hawaii this winter on Friday. He's coming to the island that morning and will interview me before I leave to Seattle. I will probably end up staying the night in Seattle with Katherine Ayres, the poop scoop girl, and go out to lunch or breakfast the following day with a NOAA attorney friend of hers. (If she cannot get ahold of this lady I will just go strait to Vancouver.) This means I will end up at Jen's either the night of the 3rd or 4th. I will stay with Jen until next Wednesday, the 8th. I plan to leave early the 8th and drive to Redding, CA via I5. (I used to hate I5 because I thought it made me car sick... little did I know, it was just traffic on I5 that drove me insane. But that's neither here nor there.) Finally, I will drive from Redding to Shadow Hills on the 9th, most likely arriving later that evening. This will get me there before Jeleen and Paul leave for West Yellowstone. So, there's the plan for now. Of course it's subject to change.

Above: Me and Mike on the Sea Lion this August

Transient Kill from Our Boat

Check out this video that one of our guests sent in of the T18s killing a Harbor Seal near Yellow Island (not far from Friday Harbor). I was on the boat and got to see this. Pretty cool!!!

http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=rrNwGnBoFK8

I Remember

It’s hard for me to believe that seven years ago today I was a sophomore in high school seeing the nation as I knew it about to change forever. It’s almost more difficult to believe that as Michael enters his second class today, he will be in the exact same position I was when the planes crashed into the towers just after 9 AM. Same grade. Same age. Different times.

I was watching a TV show which relived the events of September 11, 2001 and couldn’t help but cry over the event itself and our stupidity today. I remember when we all came together not as Democrats or Republicans; blacks or whites; rich or poor; young or old; but we came together as Americans. Now we sit around our televisions arguing over Sarah Palin’s updo, where she gets her glasses from, and her daughter’s pregnancy. Are these the issues that will impact our future? How is it that nobody asks why Obama doesn’t stay home to “tend to the children?” How come nobody discusses Obama’s style? How come nobody dissects his family and family values? I’m appalled by the masses of people who make a decision for our next leader this fall and who seem to have forgotten the real issues in favor of the Jamie-Lynn Spears-like gossip. I, quite frankly, am happy that Palin supported her daughter in such a difficult decision. Regardless of my personal views on abortion, the important issue here is that Palin is pro-life and did NOT encourage her daughter to have an abortion, which would have been easy. She stuck to her values.

We say that women are equal, but are they? Would this same debate be centered around a man? I doubt it. Perhaps I’m so turned off by the issue because I come from a family of strong, intelligent women and get pissed off when women are still looked at in these ridiculous gender roles from the early 19th century. I cannot believe that she’s being criticized for being a real mother with a real family who has real issues. I think it’s refreshing to see a “not so perfect” American family and a woman who can admit that she’s not perfect, but is motivated and has a vision to make our country a better place. This has gone beyond politics and has become the cover of US Weekly or Star magazines. Hillary was also looked down upon for being “emotional” and unable to handle typical “boys club issues.” How are females around the country not enraged by this? Putting the politics aside, this is an issue of how we see women and it is discouraging us from taking positions of power and supporting our beliefs.

I love my country. I love that I can go to school, practice my religious beliefs, walk the streets without covering my face, and talk about how I feel. However, I fear we will not remember September 11. I fear we will forget what makes our nation great in exchange for the negatives. I fear women will always be viewed as unwelcome in political circles. I fear we will forget what’s at stake. Times are changing. The world is becoming a smaller place. Politics are becoming too “political.” It’s time we take back our country, not from a particular political party, but from an absent-minded and apathetic public. My degree is in Public Relations, which is a vital part of the media. I’m sad that the issues are so sensationalized by the media that we don’t even know what we’re debating anymore. The more I learn about the political system, the more disgusted and enraged I become. Will we ever have another Abraham Lincoln? I doubt it. I’m becoming more and more interested in the political arena with ambitions to change stereotypes and support the country I love so much. There are real issues to be tackled: international relations, energy supplies, environmental concerns, insurance companies, failing schools, and a public who doesn’t feel responsible for its actions. Where are the young people concerned for their future? Their children’s future?

On September 11, 2001, I learned nothing is guaranteed. I learned the world is not the place of my grandparents’ youths. I learned I cannot disagree with the way our country is run if I do nothing to work to change it. I learned the power of one. One person, no matter how small, can make a difference for great good or great evil. One person can make a difference in the life of a child, a school, the environment, a person in need, and maybe even a group of whales swimming around in Puget Sound. I want to go to law school not simply because I want the lifestyle or the career. I want to go to law school because I cannot simply sit back and wait for a difference. I want to be the change I wish to see in the world. I want look to a better future for myself, my family, my country, and my world. The law is about protecting what we see as important. I believe some things are worth protecting and fighting for. I’m ready to fight for what I believe in. I hope my peers and Mikie’s peers are ready to take responsibility for our future and fight for a better America. I hope whoever is elected this November feels the same.

God gave us good brains! It’s time to start using them!

McCain/Palin ‘08

Family Ties

"Well all these times, they come and go. Alone, they don't seem so long. Over 22 years have gone by. We can't rewind. We're locked in time. But your still mine. Do you remember?" ~ Adaptation of Jack Johnson's Do You Remember

It’s been hard adjusting to the changes on the island this past week. Adam left to go to Scotland and things are beginning to slow down. The Residents haven’t been seen for a few days and the evenings are cold. Football season’s started back up and I’m missing the Lakers. We’ve had great encounters with Transient orcas and even better than that, mom and grandma and grandpa came to visit me.

I feel blessed to say that I’m proud of my family. I’m learning more and more that not all people can say that. Not only are we all financially successful, but more importantly, we are pretty relationally successful. How many people my age can say nobody in their extended family (aunts, uncles, cousins, and parents) has gone through a divorce? How many people in general can say that their best friends are members of their family?

I was especially happy to share the orcas with my mom. I know it’s been difficult for her to adjust to this separation because it’s been difficult for me. I guess I’m more like my mom than I admit. This is a good thing because my mom is one of the strongest women I know. She hasn’t run a corporation. She hasn’t developed a cure for a disease. She hasn’t run for public office. However, she’s my hero because she’s saved me one minor tragedy at a time. From break-ups to bad professors, my mom has been there. She moved far from her family, which I know is still difficult for her, and still puts her own needs aside for other people. I don’t think this is a sign of weakness, but instead a sign of utmost strength and love. If politicians were more like my mom, things would get done and the world would be a better place. If politicians were more like my grandma, there’d probably be the best homemade cookies at every meeting or conference, the Democrats would take back the White House… and there'd be no such thing as Republicans. LOL!

We really had a great, although short, time together. We hung out on the island and saw orcas, the lighthouse, and went to dinner in Roche Harbor. (And of course we watched the Democratic National Convention… and we didn’t spare the debates. Although we disagree on some issues, I’m glad my grandparents are still active in political issues and really care about this nation.) My roommate Sarah heard some of our debates and said, “Your grandma is a little firecracker! Now I know where you get it from!” I’m honored when people say I’m like my mom or my grandma. They’ve been the strongest women in my life and I hope my actions make them as proud of me as their actions make me proud of them. I’ll be the first to admit, I’m pretty lucky. No… I guess I’m not lucky. I’m pretty blessed.

I enjoyed going off the island (first time since June) and seeing Pike’s Market, Ballard Locks, and of course going shopping with my family. There’s something about spending money that’s good for the soul! LOL! I also had a great time seeing Mama Mia. The movie was really cute and in ways had some parallels to our family, without the multiple father thing and the whole wedding deal… and of course the spicy topless Greek guy. I’m still glad we didn’t go to the sing-a-long because everyone else in the theatre would have bought a ticket to the grandma and mom show. The trip was great and now I’m debating going to Greece instead of Hawaii. Just kidding, but seriously…

I wish we could’ve had more time together… saying goodbye is always tough. But I guess goodbye isn’t too tough when the people you love are just a phone call away.