So Long Old Friend...

J1 (Ruffles) - I have this picture blown up to an 11x17 on the wall of our guest room (which has pretty much become the whale room - lol). This photo was taken of him by the Center for Whale Research in 2008 - the summer I lived on the island.

Hey all,

Yes, it's been a while. This wedding planning thing can get a bit out of control. I've been really busy getting ready for that as well as getting our house prepared for company. We had an exhausting morning working on our backyard, although it totally paid off because it looks great! Sharon and Grandad helped design our seating area and Sharon potted flowers for us. It's much brighter and much happier... I'm really looking forward to entertaining and reading outside on our lovely furniture. I can't wait to show it off! (I don't want to add pictures so that you can be surprised.)
In some island news... J2 (aka Granny) is turning 100 this summer (or at least we think she might be). I really wish I could be at the island to celebrate it with friends, but I'm celebrating her life in spirit. Speaking of celebrating life... the first wild killer whale I ever saw, J1, passed away at the end of last year/beginning of this year. He was a special whale, not only because he was the first I saw, but also because he was so easy to identify. Pretty much everyone who has been to the islands has heard of or seen J1. I have pictures up of him in the house... in fact... he's been on my wall since I was 8 years old in various photos. This was a hard loss for me, the islanders, the researchers, and the Southern Resident Community. We believe J1 may have been the most prolific sire within the community and the loss of him will result in a loss of genetic diversity among the calves. I'm definitely going to be sad the next time I go to the islands, just knowing that I won't be able to see him. I'm also sad that my kids will never be awed by the beauty of J1 in person. However, his memory will live on in my pictures, stories, and in his offspring and their offspring.

So... here's to J1: I'll never forget our first meeting and our last goodbye. So long old friend.

Day Thirty

A Photo You Find Beautiful:This is a picture of the sunset on San Juan Island. It was taken from the top of Mt. Young looking out over the Haro Strait toward Canada. I love the colors and the memory of the place this was taken from.

Although I must say, without getting too philosophical on you, I think any photo that depicts life is beautiful. Sadly, a boy my brother played baseball with died today after he accidentally shot himself. I cannot imagine the pain his family is going through. People aren't supposed to die when they are 18 and have the whole world ahead of them. Parents just shouldn't have to bury their children.
When I found out about Riley's death, I couldn't help but over-empathize and imagine: what if that happened to me? I'd be absolutely destroyed if something like that happened in my family. I guess it's safe to admit that my biggest sin is my desire to control everything. I want to fix all the hurts, right all the wrongs, and make everyone around me happy. But the fact of the matter is: some hurts can't be fixed, some wrongs can't be righted, and I can't make everyone happy. It's so easy to get bogged down in our daily routines and "lists" that we forget why we work so hard. Twenty years from now I'm not going to care how I was ranked in law school and I'm not going to be stressing over moot court briefs, but it is my sincere hope that twenty years from now I'll be surrounded by the people I love and who love me in return.
It's important to remember that we only get one life and sometimes it's the little moments with the people we love that are the most monumental. So please know that I love you all so much. My life wouldn't be complete without you. Remember that each day is beautiful and a gift and it shouldn't be wasted with meaningless minutia that somehow ended up on "top of our list." I'll leave you all with a verse I'm holding onto to remind me that I can't control everything, and that God is good and willing to carry my burden:

“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” ~ John 16:33

Day Twenty-Nine

A Photo of Your Favorite Person from History:(The pictures of Madison are hideous, so here's Teddy.)

This was a pretty difficult one, I love many historical characters... many of which are Biblical. I'm a big fan of: Aristotle, Xenophon, Gideon, King Solomon, Jesus (obviously), and the apostle Paul. However, it's difficult to say a favorite without being cliche and saying Jesus. So... I'm changing this to my favorite person from American History (which really limits the scope). And that brings it down to two: James Madison (father of our Bill of Rights) and Teddy Roosevelt (father of our national parks). Although I'm a fan of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln... Jimmy and Teddy hold a special place in my heart for their incredible forward-thinking and ability to protect what matters so much: personal rights and preserving our resources for the future.

Day Twenty-Eight

A Photo of Somebody that Made Your Day:Jason makes my day every day! I can't wait to marry him!

Day Twenty-Seven

A Photo of Something You are Looking Forward to:I am looking forward to marrying Jason... which will happen exactly six months from today!

Day Twenty-Six

A Photo of Your Favorite Subject in School:My favorite subject in school... so far... was sustainability. I really loved the class and talking about our different outlooks on sustainability. It was great discussing how to make a difference in how we view our environment through legal channels.

Day Twenty-Five

A Photo that Inspires You:I was really inspired by the most recent episode of extreme home makeover where the crew assisted a family who had lost their oldest daughter in a single-car accident. As it turns out, she was texting friends on her way to school and never made it. Her mom was the one who found her, thrown from her vehicle, on the side of the road. Out of this unimaginable tragedy came a really inspiring mission: her family now goes across the country talking to high school kids about the dangers of texting and driving. Perhaps the saddest thing for me was the little sister, who says not one day goes by that she doesn't miss her big sister. It's such an awful loss. Nothing you could possibly have to say in a text is worth your life. Don't text and drive!!!
http://www.rememberalexbrownfoundation.org/