For the first time since I was in graduate school, I have no job, nor am I between jobs. Yes, forty years of knowing what work was or where the pay check would come from. My only breaks were maternity leaves, six weeks after a devastating car accident, and the usual vacations. And honestly, maybe only one or two of those vacations was ever a full two weeks. Yep, I was also kind of bad about sometimes even checking email when I was on vacation. All that being said, some of those years when my kids were young included part-time work though often not regularly scheduled. And gratefully, most of my jobs allowed me time and distance between work and my personal life. Time for raising kids and supporting my partner, time for helping my aging parents, time to discover this later-in-life passion for writing. And although I left some jobs, and looked for “something better” at times, I always had my work in front of me. Not now.

Yes, I’m older and if not wiser, perhaps more real about my needs and wants. And yes, I’m privileged to have the opportunity to not feel rushed to discover my next paycheck. In fact, I’m expecting I won’t work a full-time gig again. Too, I’m not allowing my “good at getting things done” spirit to overfill myself with all those things I’ve been meaning to get to (more writing, better piano playing, bigger garden, cleaner closets, new volunteering). My time with family (and yes that beautiful grandchild), being in nature and writing are my priorities. We’ll see what else authentically sneaks in.

On my nearly last work day, I met up with a new friend and colleague to walk in Northwest Portland’s Forest Park. Suddenly serendipitous to me was to be a in space that exudes memories of Dad. Despite my lifetime closeness with Mom, he was the one I often shared career celebrations and woes. I’ve come to realize how alike we were professionally. Now, I’m reminded of his post Port of Portland retirement work: things he loved. Leading new POP employee on tours of Portland’s waterfront and port operations – with plenty of stories – scribing a column for Shipping News. While I’ve learned so much in my career and mostly fully enjoyed it, there are some things I’ve developed and learned that are requisites for anything I do consider next. What, you may ask? Shared compassion. Collaborating together with purpose. Translating technical for lay understanding. Mentoring and giving back. Those are the things that speak to me, as I look to align myself with my wants and needs. I’m recognizing that it’s okay when I open a professional journal or attend a conference that I no longer feel driven to learn “every thing I should know” rather than those that truly interest me.

What is ahead of me for certain, is continued events supporting From First Breath to Last! I am hopeful you too will share your thoughts about the book either as a review or in private. That does fill me!

I’m grateful for host Patty Grasher and KXRW for their recent interview about me, my books and writing. If you missed it, you can hear the recording and read followup questions here. Check out my In the News page for other press you may have missed.

It’s fun for me to think about how my grandfather in retirement provided his own version of NW Book Chat each Sunday morning on Portland’s KEX for years. Although my grandfather had a “day job” in advertising, he too penned three books on Northwest history, including The White-Headed Eagle. (See The Chief Factor returns.)

Here are a few other events coming up!

• Book signing – Portland Book Week, Jan’s Books, Saturday, June 15, 2024 – 11 AM – 1 PM, 12320 SW 1st St., Beaverton, OR 97005.
• Developing Compassion by Honoring Stories, Northwest Narrative Medicine Collaborative Community of Practice Workshop, Tuesday, June 18, 2024, 6-7:30 pm, Lucky Lab Brew Pub, 915 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, OR 97214.
• Have you read FROM FIRST BREATH TO LAST (or plan to) and want to join an informal book discussion? Join me on Zoom: Wednesday, June 26, 7-8 pm Pacific Time. Register. Learn a bit more on Facebook Event. 
• Book Talk, Paulina Springs Book Store, Sisters, Oregon, Thurs., Aug. 8, 2024, 7 pm.
• From First Breath to Last Book Talk, Summer Reading Program, Lake Oswego Public Library, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, 3 – 4 pm, 706 Fourth Street, Lake Oswego.

And now? Onward.