By Mike Ivaska Last week I was diagnosed with high blood pressure. This is due, in part I’m sure, to the stresses of life. It also likely stems from genetics. It also doesn’t help, I imagine, that I’m a middle-aged fat guy who likes Doritos. I’ve been thinking a lot lately about being middle-aged. The…
Island Voices, October 2026
Black Cats, Not Just for Halloween
Illustration by Cynthia Sadurni By Cynthia Sadurni What comes to mind when we encounter the image of a panther, be it a leopard or jaguar? We feel awe, admiration, or maybe wonderment. We may think it majestic, mysterious, strong. So, I wonder, why should our feelings be different when we encounter a black cat? Is…
Island Voices, October 2026
A Bridge Too Far
By Rich Osborne Like every other Islander, I have endured the Judd Creek bridge closure. And yes, it added five minutes and 20 seconds to my commute. Every time. But I noticed something. Somehow, it increased my toleration of other drivers. I found myself channeling Bobby McFerrin. “Don’t worry, be happy.” My friend John said,…
Island Voices, October 2026
What Was I Thinking?
By Gates (Pam) Johnson Now that I’m feeling better and have my health stuff semi-under control, it’s time for me to get back to a project that has been on the shelf for a few, make that several, years. I am writing a cookbook. One would think that a vanity project like this could be…
Island Voices, October 2026
Lost and Found
By Donna (Rocky) Liberty Recently, a friend and I saw each other uptown and stopped to have a conversation. She asked me, “You know you’re missing an earring, right?” Oh, dear! I did NOT know. One of my favorite pairs of earrings, and one of them missing! Yikes! Quickly, I retraced my steps through the…
Island Voices, October 2026
Still She Smiles
By Suzanna Leigh Mom is on hospice now. A lot of what I have been doing this month is spending time with her daily, working to keep her house and finances in order, and communicating with her caregivers. It is, as Carol Spangler says, a sacred time. Mom’s energy and strength are ebbing. Sometimes getting…
Announcements, Island Voices, October 2026
The Magic of Music with Marj
By Rich Osborne Many of you know Marj Watkins. Air Force wife, writer, artist, charitable donor, and a dozen other roles in the 102 years of her life. She has a new role. She now has a performance venue for Island Musicians. It started innocently enough. I lead “The Island Rockers” in the “Music Mends…
Island Voices, October 2026
Parallel Lives – The Lean Place
By Richard Odell There comes a certain hour in September. The long march of Spring and Summer stands still. The alder leaves are now a time-hardened raiment of darkened green with flecks of brindle and gold. The broken fields are spent, whitened, at rest in the tilted sunlight. One looks upon it all and feels…
Island Voices, October 2026
I Pledge Allegiance to All Americans
Who Do You Pledge Yourself To? By March Twisdale As long as I can remember, I’ve seen all Americans as my “fellows,” and we are not the same. We root for different sports teams, worship differently, speak different languages, and hold endlessly diverse viewpoints. However, as Americans we all have one shared trait. Our nationality….
Entertainment, Island Voices, September 2026
Theater on Vashon, VCA, and Ghost Boat
By Rich Osborne It has been a good summer for performances. We saw “Rent” at the Vashon Center for the Arts. Spectacular. Strong cast, great musicians, the whole meal deal. A well-deserved standing ovation. I laughed, I cried, I remembered what it was like, performing in New York, in the late seventies. (Yes! I was…