Not my typical Monday: Lunch with His Excellency Bakhtiyar Gulyamov, Uzbekistan’s new ambassador to the U.S.
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Tag Archives: Helen Holter
The magic of Mount Rainier
I love Mount Rainier. I long ago lost count of the times I hiked, camped, snowshoed, or just spur-of-the moment drove 210 miles in a long day to hang out on the mountain.
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Space Needle blue moon
Another reason why I love Seattle: Space Needle blue moon. I wasn’t alone. Neighbors, tourists, professional photographers, and TV stations came out to capture this rare, rising blue moon over Seattle. The next one’s in 2015. (Kerry Park/Seattle–August 20, 2013) Continue reading
Lovin’ Uzbekistan!
Five years ago this week I was exploring Silk Roads and back roads of Central Asia. Officially I was with the Seattle-Tashkent Sister City Association, an invited member of its 35th anniversary delegation. Continue reading
‘Hello there.’
These loved ones, our dead. Does healing ever begin? Is that deep hole always there? They say time heals, but I’m not so sure. In these strange moments, in everyday moments, he pops up. ‘Hello there.’
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Ripon College, recalculating
A moment in time: publicly thanking my life-altering alma mater, Ripon College in Wisconsin, as they gave me their Distinguished Alumni Citation. Here’s my thank you: Continue reading
Ripon College, returning
I’m returning to Ripon College.
I’m returning because some of the most fascinating and challenging professors, classmates, and friends are at my Wisconsin alma mater, a school known for breathing life, inquisitiveness, and bold thinking into young minds. Continue reading
White-trash garlic bread
I can’t get no satisfaction. I grew up wanting more, and why not? It was my culture. Even the Rolling Stones’ Mick Jagger wailed dissatisfaction over a girl dissatisfied with him. But why? Blame it on TV… Continue reading
“Pretty faces” of cancer
I was channel-surfing tonight after all that riveting newly-elected Pope Francis coverage on CNN, and landed on Katie Couric’s talk show. The former CBS News anchor was focusing on lesser-known cancers and cancer prevention. Continue reading
Turkey: Coming home
I’M NOT TURKISH, I don’t speak Turkish (much), and I don’t have ties to anything Turkish in the U.S.A. Yet when the plane touches down at Istanbul’s airport – my eighth trip so far – my heart still flutters as if it’s the first time: Continue reading
“These books are made for walkin’ “
I sometimes crave caffeine on my Queen Anne neighborhood walks – but books? I discovered this “Little Free Library” in someone’s yard today, a give-and-take vellum venue – perhaps for those who’ve lost their Kindles? Continue reading
The burdens of disease, and death
In my lifetime a handful of diseases have been eradicated – like smallpox – or tamed a bit – like HIV/AIDS. I grew up wanting to believe that hope was part of the methodology in scientific research, hope part of the prescription in healing. Hmm… Continue reading
The last road trip: eulogy for my father
{Note: I wrote this on the flight to his funeral, after my dad died February 18, 2012.} Arthur Holter Born: Montana. Died: Wisconsin. Forever Home: Montana. May the circle be unbroken. My dad loved road trips. He died talking about them. There it is: that corded telephone. Dad was chatting with my older sister … Continue reading
Remembering
February 18, 2012. A year, how can it be? Gone.
We, his children, dig his grave and bury him – our father. Continue reading
Social media, doctor’s orders
In the heart of Washington State’s playground, from Chelan to Wenatchee, healthcare’s a struggle for its fruit orchard laborers. But an experimental social media platform can help. Continue reading
Changing names: Leningrad
What’s in a name? These days, it’s not Leningrad, anymore. It’s not the USSR, anymore. And my “‘Baby Lenin”‘ pin isn’t worn anymore, but rather a sought-after relic for collectors. Change in St. Petersburg is the real name of the game: mind-boggling change. Continue reading
Dog bones & relationships
Dog bones and Thanksgiving–what’s the connection? It’s the meatiness of solid relationships – not wispy, virtual ones – that are most satisfying… Continue reading
Bridle Trails State Park, & impolite owls
There are other things to do here besides riding horses, but that’s the main reason people visit Bridle Trails State Park.
I grew up in Montana, but don’t own a horse and don’t ride that often. Continue reading
A bygone era
Soviet military veteran joins others in a May Day parade honoring their service… service of a bygone era… Continue reading
Voices of global health: multifaith work (w/video)
Sometimes it seems there’s a global war in global health, with faith-based and secular organizations at each other’s throats: competing interests, differences in approaching medical treatment with – and without – a faith component, funding sources with – and without – religious strings attached. Continue reading
