More Kari Traa, Support for First Responders
I read this last night and wanted to share...it is from the Reader's Write section of The Sun Magazine from June 2021.
THE DILAPIDATED HOUSE where my husband, our three kids, and I lived in the 1960s had windows that would not totally open or close. The floor sloped at such an angle that anything round that fell to it would roll away. My husband sold cars on commission at a local lot, and since his sales were few and far between, I had to closely monitor our grocery budget. One summer, in the midst of an Oklahoma heat wave, I compared the cost of flour and yeast to the cost of bread and saw I could save money if I baked my own.
I waited until the children were napping, then meticulously read the instructions on the yeast package. I even used the children’s thermometer to ensure the water was the right temperature when I added it to the yeast. Then I kneaded the dough and covered it with a kitchen towel.
The instructions said to let the dough rise until it doubled in size. Right then the children were waking from their nap: I had to change diapers, provide sippy cups and bottles, and read them their favorite storybook, The Poky Little Puppy. By the time I checked on the dough, two hours had passed. It hadn’t risen at all.
It was the same story an hour later, which was nearly time for my husband to return from work. I knew he would be angry if he saw that I’d wasted money on an unsuccessful experiment, so I took the bowl of dough and a small shovel out back, where I buried my failure shallowly at the edge of the yard.
After dinner that evening my husband went out back to play with our three-year-old son. A few minutes later he called to me through the screen door: “You have to come see this! Look, at the edge of the yard — it’s the hugest, whitest mushroom I have ever seen.”
Nancy Miller
Marysville, Washington
My wife and her team of volunteers will be hosting a second Kari Traa clothing event on Monday January 17th at Moxie LSVL. Time and details to follow, but mark that date in your diary. Same idea- free cloths to those in need and sample sale at the end to all of the Kari Traa lovers out there. I just want to appreciate this phenomenal Norwegian company and their leadership team, Sissel Himle and Kate Starrett for making this happen.
Here's another wonderful resource offered up by Moxie friend Niki Coghill, read below:
I wanted to share with you what we are doing in case it’s something that might be interesting for your to share. Building Warriors (I’m the executive director) is providing mental health support for first responders involved in the Marshall Fire. As you can see by the devastation this fire was unlike anything anyone has ever seen. It’s a miracle no first responders died. Most of them are still in a dazed shock. The guilt a lot of them feel that they couldn’t do more will impact them in the months ahead. We are working really closely with Mountain View Fire and Lafayette. We have clinicians who have been at the stations for several days. Mountain View was the first department dealing with things out on Marshall road. Louisville Fire was coupled with PD and they are working with another agency but they are coming to us for clinical care.
For anyone involved we hope to provide counseling for any first responder or their family member at no cost. We have 25 culturally competent clinicians (meaning they themselves were at one time a first responder or they are the significant other of one) who are ready to work with folks right away. It can sometimes take time to get into a therapist so this can be helpful to meet the need right in the moment.
That’s just a bit about what we are doing. If it resonates, awesome and if not a problem at all. I know you have so many people reach out to you.
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Today's song by Big Thief. We happenstancically saw them in Austin during SXSW hanging out at a bar with Will from Paradise Found records and some friends. The band in the corner playing was SOOOOOO good that I walked away from my beer to go listen. Later that night in another bar was that same band just killing it on a side stage....we wandered over for another listen...turns out it was Big Thief. They are in my top 10. Great article HERE as well. The rising swell of the song reminds me of Janes Addiction or Pavement or even some Richard Buckner songs that have this bottled up rage- sometimes you just gotta get it out...