Bright Spots

PRETTY HARDY: Yes, more photos from our yard. Sorry. That whole pandemic thing. ... 

We have been enjoying some pretty and persistent flowers from our yard. Our one and only dahlia still has several pink flowers. 

And we even have a crazy daisy or two in November. That surprised us! 

Our Japanese maple is stunning right about now - the colors are so vibrant. This photo doesn't do it justice.

APPLIED: Yesterday morning, I was disappointed when I awoke at 6:30 and couldn't go back to sleep. I was so tired from the 14-hour work day on the day before, I was hoping I could sleep in and relax some. Oh well, my brain had other ideas, I guess.

So, laying there wide awake, for whatever reason, I thought to check the King County animal shelter's site for any volunteer opportunity for CJ. Sadly, they had nothing due to COVID-19. However, I saw a link to other county volunteer opportunities and clicked on it.  Within seconds I saw something called "South for Parks Winter Workshop Series." It was described as follows ... 

This virtual program is an opportunity for young people in grades 9-12 to participate in a series of Zoom sessions on various environmental topics related to parks and green space. This one-time opportunity will involve a co-design process where participating youth work with Parks staff on our new summer internship program for high school students.

We firmly believe that youth programs should be informed by young people like you, so apply and be part of this process! Participants will receive a stipend for doing the workshop.

I clicked the link to look at the application and found that it was pretty short, and I also discovered that the deadline for applying was yesterday by 5 p.m.! 

When they got up, I showed the kids the page and asked if they were interested in applying. They each said they were, so our "to do" list for yesterday changed. We'll see if either one of them gets accepted into the program. It's hard to know if 2 or 200 teens will apply, and the post didn't say how big the group would be. 

ELECTION REFLECTION: What an experience working for King County Elections was this cycle! Turnout was phenomenal, and I got a chance to meet so many voters, many of whom I'll never forget. One gentleman who came to my station was absolutely beaming - I could see that even behind his mask. He placed his voter registration on my table and right next to it he placed this ornate certificate. It was mid-afternoon on the final voting day, and I was trying to work as fast as possible. In fact, I was in such a hurry, I'll admit I didn't even read the document, but I just instinctively said, "That is beautiful."

The gentleman pointed to the paper and told me he had just received his citizenship. He rushed straight from that office to the Renton vote center.

Through misty eyes, I registered the new voter and issued his first ballot as an American citizen.

Though 2020 has dished out more than its fair share of ugly, that moment was a moving reminder to me of how beautiful America can be and still is.