"Some trails are happy ones,

Others are blue.
It's the way you ride the trail that counts,
Here's a happy one for you."

-Dale Evans, "Happy Trails," 1950

Can you keep a secret?

Remember this photo: (from this post)
There's a scene with a nearly identical view of our very own Columbia Gorge in this movie:

Can you keep a secret? Ummm... I read the book and loved every cheesy moment of the movie. Can you say guilty pleasure?

On a lighter note-

Have you ever seen anything so cute in your whole life?

Rockstar HATES the rain. Poor little guy had to be born to an Oregonian breeder. I thought maybe this coat would make him more reasonable during winter walks. Turns out I just found something else he hates... doggie apparel. He wouldn't move an inch while wearing it. No amount of coaxing would make him walk. I think he felt humiliated- maybe he knew I found it in the dollar bin at Target. The little snob.

I'd like to take this opportunity to cry

That's a line from a song by Priscilla Ahn and whenever I think about the things I'm going to share with you, it always comes to mind.

I generally subscribe to the philosophy of the photographer Rodney Smith who said "I want people to see the beauty and whimsy of life, not its ugliness." Times like this however, I feel that life has ugliness that must be addressed to be overcome.

A few weeks ago, Jeremy and I saw this movie:

I first heard about the issue of human trafficking years ago and felt scared and overwhelmed. My sudden awareness to the depth and breadth of sadness in the world brought me to tears. That's all I knew to do. It seemed too big and too powerful for little me to stop it. My tears, my mourning other people's hardship was the first step in my desire to free them from it. It is too big for just me, but this movie gave me hope that in numbers we can change the world. It was changed dramatically during the abolitionist movement. It's been done before, why not now? This is a 21st Century abolitionist movement. Good is more powerful than evil, light dispels darkness, we have the power, we just have to respond. It is unacceptable to allow these crimes to continue. "Justice is what love looks like in public." These children and young women deserve justice, they deserve love. I intend to fight for them.

"It's come into my life for a reason, I have to respond."

The wheels in my brain haven't stopped turning since I saw the movie. I have a few ideas to pursue and I'll need your help. Until my plans start to materialize, visit the Call + Response website for ways to get involved. Still not feeling your power? Watch this video and listen to the Five For Fighting song beneath it.....everyday......until you believe it.

"Never doubt that a small group of committed people can

change the world.

Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

-Margaret Mead

Thank Your Local Optimistic Tagger

I can't tell you how happy I am with the weather we've been having lately: relatively warm, completely dry and partially to mostly sunny. In November. That's uncommon at the least for Portland, and I want to publicly express my gratitude for fear that ingratitude would upset the weather gods and make them cry. Inches of tears. Rockstar and I took advantage and had a long walk yesterday. We came across the abandoned Meier & Frank building and became acquainted with our local optimistic tagger. We didn't meet her, (the cursive makes me think it's a her) but we saw her work. I think she expressed principles dear to her heart to the point of exhaustion, then bid farewell. Sleep-tight graffiti girl.

Not of Asian Descent

But my new haircut reminds me a little of these:

Couldn't look more different...

...from what I see out my window.

The beauty of the desert: Scottsdale, AZ
Photos from our trip last month- Who knew there are so many different kinds of cactuses?