editor's letter

e have a running joke around our house that my husband’s worst personality trait is optimism. And truth be told, it does sometimes get out of hand. His sunny personality complements the gusto with which he participates in every possible way. Where any normal person would cower at the idea of strapping legs with a coworker for a three-legged race, he’d be the first in line. An invitation to karaoke? Great! Disco costume party, you say? Even better.

As endearing as it can be, at times it’s been in sharp contrast to my best trait, cutting sarcasm. And eyerolls.

But after 17 years together, darn it if it isn’t wearing off on me a bit. Somewhere deep inside my cold black heart, a sesame seed of sincerity and cheerfulness has taken root. For example…I bought the whole family matching llama Channukah pajamas. I love the whole Grand Old Fourth celebration bonanza. First Friday Art Walks along with the new Moonlight Market are on repeat on the family calendar. I even bought the dogs Seahawks jerseys and myself a Kraken hoodie. I use emojis.

It’s as if the scratchy voice inside my head that has, for 51 years, routinely wondered “have you no shame” has suddenly discovered that it’s actually more fun to have fun. Being excited is cute. Showing up with an open heart is cool. Singing along isn’t just entertaining, it’s powerful. It’s quite literally the release of shame and the newfound understanding that there are worse things in life than being earnest.

In this issue we see loads of people who got this concept earlier than I did. Seniors who still get together to ski, Island Volunteer Caregivers who make it a practice to help out for no better reason than it feels good, folks who make it their nonprofit’s work to train dogs to be of comfort and service. We’re surrounded. As 2022 winds to a close, may we all wrap ourselves in the good and the joyous and set our sights on making next year, our best yet.

Allison Schuchman Editor in Chief

PUBLISHER

Natalie Rodriguez pnwbainbridge@gmail.com

EDITOR IN CHIEF

Allison Schuchman

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

Connie Bye

George Soltes

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Gisela Swift

PRODUCTION MANAGER

Mark Swift

WRITERS

Christy Carely, Jeff Fraga, Avery Gray, Isabelle Haines, Chantelle Lusbrink, Audrey Nelson, Kerrie Houston Reightley, Dinah Satterwhite, Janie Walton, Bajda Welty

PHOTOGRAPHERS

David W. Cohen, Annie Graebner, Colleen Parker, Dinah Satterwhite

CONTACT

(206) 486-4097 • pnwbainbridge@gmail.com

Instagram @pnwbainbridge

Facebook at PNW Bainbridge publisher's