BLACK BUTTEY

I do not know who first told us about Black Butte Ranch in Central Oregon, but I am grateful that they did. 

We have been coming to Black Butte (the mountain is pictured above) for more than a decade, and I believe we have only missed one year - 2020 because of the pandemic - since we started going.

Though the Ranch and the activities we partake in - running, biking, hiking, pickleball - do not change a whole lot from year to year, Black Butte is definitely our happy place.

This year, like many years, we stayed there with our friends the Tais. They have two kids that are several years older than ours, and the bond the kids have is very special.

There was a lot of hang out time, family dinners, movies, and Netflix shows. Check out "Somebody Feed Phil!"

I look forward to our next trip to Black Butte. Until then, the memories we made will have to sustain me!

NORTHWEST ROOTS

We spent twelve and a half wonderful years in Portland prior to moving to Ann Arbor. In some many ways, this is where both the kids and we grew up - a place that truly felt like home and where we felt settled. 

It has been nearly three years since we moved from Portland, but we still have many beloved friends that feel more like family. For that reason, it was wonderful to be back visiting last week. 

It was a whirlwind visit with only 27 hours in town before we headed to Central Oregon. However, we fit a lot in during that time. 

After checking in to our hotel, we headed to food carts in the Northwest 23rd area. We ate a wonderful selection of food, including: naan, pad thai, sushi burritos, and waffles! Next, at Nicholas' suggestion, we went to one of my favorite places on earth, the Japanese Garden. It was as beautiful as ever.

We stopped by the Timbers'/Thorns' store to pick up some souvenirs and see the old stadium.

Then, we met up with Kathleen's friends for a light dinner later that day. Afterwards, I caught up with a few friends from my old futsal team for dinner at a new West African place called Adaki.

The following day, I had an amazing six mile run in Forest Park. I can still see the brilliant green hues!

We stopped by my old friend and mentor Grover's house to drop off a gift for his 80th birthday. It was a quick hello, but it was so nice to see him and his wife Susan.

Finally, we went to lunch with my friend George and his family. It was wonderful to catch up with him.

This was our second trip to Portland since our move. Both times, being back brought back so many fond memories and strong emotions and served as a touchstone for whom and where we used to be and who and where we are now.

While much has changed about Portland, certain things have not. There are more people in Portland whom I love than anywhere else. I have more fond memories of Portland than anywhere else. I do not see those two things changing anytime soon.

SUPREME IDIOCY

This week the Supreme Court ruled on two cases that will change our society for the worse. First, they ruled in favor of the plaintiffs who argued that a New York state law limiting areas where one can carry a gun in unconstitutional. In this age of mass shootings that seem to have occurred in every and all public spaces, how this ruling make sense? 

The second amendment is used as a justification for this decision. Let us examine that text: "A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." First, we have a standing army of professional soldiers and police forces that maintain security in this country. We are no longer reliant on militia to protect us. In fact, many militia groups are rightly viewed as extremists and terrorists. Not surprisingly, these groups are heavily-armed, and many of them took part in the storming of the capital. What planet are these justices living on?

The second decision this week that was even more cataclysmic was the ruling in favor of Dobbs (State of Mississippi) v. Jackson Women's Health Organization that effectively overturned the 49 year precedent of Roe v. Wade that had guaranteed a woman's right to abortion. Almost instantaneously, abortion is now illegal in over half of our states, including Michigan that has a trigger ban based on an old state statute. 

What this means is that half of Americans - its women - no longer have full citizenship or bodily autonomy. This is a travesty. This podcast with an abortion provider from Austin lays out what our world looked like even prior to this ruling, and things will only worsen.

More concerning, the 6-3 majority opinion opens the door to overturning other laws that rested on the right to privacy enshrined in the 14th amendment. These laws concern contraception, gay marriage, and interracial marriage. I would not be surprised if attacks on these accepted facets of our society come under attack next.

So what can we as citizens do? How can we act? We are still a nation of laws, which means that laws can be used to enshrine our rights and freedoms. Donate to gun control groups like Brady and Everytown and abortion rights groups like Planned Parenthood. Finally, vote in every single race for elected office and remove anyone who does not support the sensible gun control laws and vital abortion access laws we need right now. It may take a generation and a new Supreme Court to roll back these anachronistic rulings, but change starts with us right now.

GUN CRAZY

This month we witnessed the massacre of 19 children and two of their teachers in Uvalde, Texas. While the police confronted the shooter and were aware of his movements and location, they failed to intervene for more than one hour. There has been much discussion about how law enforcement dropped the ball but not enough discussion about why they failed to intervene and why our elected leaders have been so incompetent and derelict of their duty.

It is now clear that the police on site at the school were awaiting protective shields prior to storming the room because they knew they were outgunned by the shooter's assault rifle. Why these weapons of war are legal in this country, I will never know. 

Our elected leaders are far more culpable in my opinion because, like us, they have witnessed mass shooting after mass shooting without taking any action. This is unconscionable. 

This week the senate finally took action and passed an incremental gun safety bill. It does not touch assault rifles or high capacity magazines and does not offer the basic protections that the majority of Americans believe should become law. Tellingly, Canada reacted to our Uvalde shooting by passing strict gun control legislation because they do not want to live in a society like ours.

When the senseless slaughter of children, husbands, wives, brothers, and sisters ends, that is when we can call ourselves a civilized nation.