What the world needs now…
Let’s pull together and answer the needs of some injured American servicemen and Iraq children receiving treatment in a Baghdad hospital.
CAPT. BILL GRIFFIN, a former Prowler squadron commanding officer at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station, is now in Iraq and has seen for himself the need for basic comfort items, such as:
— Sweatsuits for adults and small boys
— Flip flop shower shoes
— Body wash, toothpaste, toothbrushes, etc.
— Snacks, such as granola bars, M & Ms and applesauce cups
— Soft drinks
— Cuddly toys for small children or simple handheld games
CAPT. CHRIS FIELD, head of the Prowler Wing, is investigating means of transporting these items. Anything in excess of current needs will be shared with orphanages in Iraq.
Please take your items to the Chamber of Commerce office on Highway 20, south of Taco Bell, by Jan. 20.
Home Again …
Ever notice that when grown up children return they almost always have broods of their own in tow?
A few days before Christmas, HERB and JANE JOHNSON of Pinewood Way welcomed their son SERGEANT 1ST CLASS ROBERT JOHNSON, USA, Oak Harbor High School Class of 1987, along with Robert’s wife Elisa, and children Saffron, Denny and Connor.
Then on Christmas Eve, the arrival of their daughter ALLISON JOHNSON and her son ALDEN of Bellingham made the reunion complete.
Robert is happy not to be wearing a flak jacket and Kevlar helmet this holiday season. After Kosovo, Korea and Germany, he’s glad just to be back in the good old USA.
Welcome home!
A Writer’s Life …
Writers! What would we do without them? They fire up the imagination and bring color to our lives.
Novelists create characters we either love or hate. Playwrights tease us with suspense until the last curtain. And poets, well they dare to uncover parts of the human soul few would reveal.
A poet who has observed life on Whidbey since her arrival in 1946 as a young bride has just self-published, along with JACK STILTZ of Bay Printing, a book called “Whidbey Island: Star of the Sea.”
WIND AND TIDE BOOKSTORE has copies of ALICE M. GRIFFIN’s book of poetry.
Now, with the silent landscape and time spent indoors, is a good time to rediscover the joy of reading poetry and perhaps taking up the pen to write some of your own. I’ll make the tea.
Raise a working dog …
STAR, a yellow Labrador Retriever, came through with a 10-pup litter on Dec. 10. There were six black and four yellow babies born. Star was chosen by Summit Assistance Dogs to be their first breeding stock, based on her temperament and spirit.
Now before you say you’ll give one of these pups a good home, this requires a sincere commitment on your part. Each of these “service-dogs-to-be” will need a loving foster home in which to spend their first year or so. There they will be socialized and prepared for their careers as working canine partners for people with disabilities.
Learn more about this important volunteer work by contacting Summit at info@summitdogs.org or 360-293-5609.
Poster Kids …
If your child is a bit of an artist who can create fanciful images of the future of air transportation, go to www.wsdot.wa.gov/aviation and get an application right away.
The Washington State Department of Transportation invites young people from 6 to 17 to enter the 2005 International Aviation Art Contest. This year’s art contest theme is “Create an Air Show Poster: More Than 100 Years of Human Flight.”
Winning artwork will be displayed at the Museum of Flight in Seattle.
To enter the contest, fill out the application form and mail it with your artwork to WSDOT Aviation, 3704 172nd St. NE, Suite K2, PO Box 3367, Arlington, WA 98223. Deadline is Jan 10.
Onward, Fellow Explorers …
“Regrets, I’ve had a few, but then again, too few to mention.”
FRANK SINATRA had it right. Don’t waste time looking over your shoulder at yesterday when we have a year full of possibilities at our feet.
Face the new year bravely and do it your way!
