VOLUME III, NUMBER ix: 2018

Elaine and Paul on the lanai at the Red Ti Hale.

Greetings from Kona, Hawaii

As the sun set over Kealakekua Bay in late October, we reflected on a year of significant milestones from our perch at the Red Ti Hale vacation cottages on the Big Island of Hawaii.
 
Elaine kept a photo journal on Facebook that chronicled our stay there and, briefly beforehand, on Oahu. We front loaded our time there with great visits with old friends who we met in Seattle and who had subsequently moved home. We spent a splendid evening reconnecting with Kevin, a friend from Paul’s grad school days at the University of Washington. We raised a glass in memory of a couple of departed professors and shared stories about what we knew of former classmates - not to mention a conversation about the intersection of demographics, exponential technologies, and what it means for young people like us as we get a little older. The next day, Elaine’s former colleague Aster and her family took us on a driving tour of their favorite haunts on the North Shore - including a pair of bakeries and a shave ice shop. The evening ended with an anniversary dinner with them at an oceanfront resort.
 
Indeed, the reason for two weeks on the former Sandwich Islands was our 30th anniversary. The number is getting big but it’s not the only one.

Milestones

Elaine’s brother Ron marked his 50th birthday in May - celebrated with a surprise party a year in the planning, and nobody let it slip. (That is really something in our family.)
 
On the other side of the house, Paul’s brother and sister-in-law are celebrating their 40th anniversary at the end of December.
 
Elaine was on the planning committee for her high school class reunion in July, marking 40 years since graduation. The reunion went well past quitting time because there was always one more story to tell. It felt good to be back home in Hamiota twice this year.
 
Coincidentally, Paul received advanced word about a River East Collegiate Class of 1982 reunion next spring. Not every class celebrates a 37th reunion, especially after 27 years of silence. The plan is to disguise this oddball milestone as a Freedom 55 party. Not sure how the math works on this one either but it promises to be a fun time​

Working Life

On the work front, Elaine was recognized for her first 25 years of service with UW Medicine. Now, well into her 26th year, her role is morphing again in the name of “clinical transformation” as the hospital system implements another electronic health record (EHR) software.
 
In January, Paul will mark 18 years with his current employer - a media company that covers state and local government . If you count a volunteer gig at the university radio station, Paul has been in and around the industry for 40 years (gasp!).
 
All these big numbers seem mathematically impossible for people who were friggin’ twenty-somethings the last time we checked.
 
Paul had a busy and interesting year working in and around states and localities. Politically, 36 gubernatorial elections changed the complexion and gender makeup of state legislatures and governors’ offices across the country.
 
Further from view, Paul also continued to lead a partnership between our flagship magazine and a national non-profit to tell stories of city innovation and experimentation in helping to improve the lives of low-income residents. It is rewarding work. He is also active in work to make GovTech a legitimate part of the tech industry. The results to date are encouraging. Add to all that the production of four original podcast series (two of which he hosts) and no two days have been the same. (He is having entirely too much fun as a podcaster - it is like being paid to do radio again.)

Outdoor Kitchen Happenings

At home, we have now had our outdoor kitchen for three years and it continues to be a gathering place for visiting friends and a place to mark other milestones - graduations mostly - but we’re still making new memories with each gathering.
March brought Elaine'e niece Alyssa out for the Emerald City Comicon.  It was a whole new experience for all of us - but lots of fun. 
We were also pleased to welcome Elaine’s childhood best friend Arla this fall for her first visit, which was 26 years in the making. The very next weekend we had a return visit from our our first and most frequent visitors over the years, James and Leanne.
 
There are plenty of pages left in our guest book. We would love to see you too the next time you travel to the Pacific Northwest.

Paul challenging Nancy to a race - knee scooter vs walker. Bob is just looking pretty.

Life slowed down

Our summer plans were interrupted (or you might say, turned upside down) by the need for Paul to have surgery on his right foot. It is a long story but the important part is that surgery and the recovery could not have gone better. Having been (mildly) hobbled for the last four years, he is rediscovering the joy of walking pain free again.

Church and Community

Our friends group continues to grow thanks in no small part to a number of young families being drawn to the church at which we are members. In the current climate, it has been interesting and edifying to be part of the difficult discussions of race and homelessness, including how local faith communities can work together to address both intractable issues. That work will doubtlessly continue well into the new year and beyond.
​   

Same Time next year

To those of you who have missed this highly irregular Taylorgram, thank you for remembering. We’ll try this again in a year or so. (We hear Christmas comes around at the same time each year.) Thank you too for your friendship over the years and across the miles.
 
To use an expression we came to appreciate during our time in Hawaii, we wish you a very warm Aloha for 2019.