By Suzanna Leigh My name is Puff. Well it used to be. That’s what Jackie Paper called me. Such fine times we had! Sailing the high seas, getting homage from pirates and princes. Sometimes I took him flying high over the land and we looked down at the little towns and villages below. It was…
By Daniel Hooker A child asked his father, “Can you explain what a solar eclipse is?” The father said, “No, Son.” ~ As I wake up to my first cup of dark French Revolutionary roasted coffee, I wonder if I should have another. Nah, it’s decapitated. ~ Did you hear about the parishioner who got…
In July issue’s “With Wand and Shawl: the Investiture of Vashon’s New Co-Poets Laureate,” we welcomed Iris Spring and C. Hunter Davis into this shared role. The Loop is delighted to print this poem by Iris Dawn Spring. For a Friend Sometimes I think if you. I wonder, do you think of me too? Don’t…
A Lyrical Guide to Washington State Birds Birdbrains: A Lyrical Guide to Washington State Birds, edited by Susan Rich, is a one-of-a-kind Washington State bird guide. The anthology includes original pen and ink sumi-e paintings by artist Hiroko Seki, bird fact notes, and short poems/stories/memoir. Poems/prose are bird-focused rather than human centered. The bird notes…
(Yes, it’s low-sugar, gluten-free, high-protein, and delicious) By March Twisdale What do you see in your social media feed? We all know about “the algorithm” that funnels content toward individuals, but how often do we acknowledge our role in what shows up? The algorithm is like the perfect mirror, reflecting back to us our own…
By Rachel Waldron In last month’s issue of The Loop, a guest piece questioned the inclusion of transgender individuals in public life, raising concerns about privacy, facilities, medical care, and community values. Open dialogue is part of what makes Vashon vibrant, but when public commentary touches on human rights and health, our conversation must be grounded…
In May and June 2025, a two-part article, “There’s No Place Like Home – a Ukrainian Woman’s Journey” by Daniel Hooker was featured in The Loop. Read Part 2 here. A companion article, “Olga and the Ukraine War,” by Andy Valencia also appeared in May 2025. I want to say how grateful I am to…
By Gates (Pam) Johnson As you may know if you have read my previous rantings here in The Loop, I have been dealing with a cancer diagnosis and treatments since March. For some weird reason, I decided my feelings and experiences might be good fodder for my monthly musings. People may ask, “Why do you…