Vashon EMTs. Our experience.

Several weeks ago our children were in a car accident (with an adult other than their parents).  I don't want to go into the details of the car accident.  Except to talk about Vashon EMTs.

Our two kids (ages 1 and 6) were transferred to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.  When I got the call that something had happened I talked to one of the EMTs.  I believe it was a Captain.  He introduced himself and said, very reassuringly, "Everyone seems to be just fine. We are doing this as protocol." He walked me through what was going to happen. And called 2 more times before they arrived at HMC (I was in Seattle when I got the call).

When they finally arrived at the ER, our 1 year old was sound asleep on on EMT's shoulder.  Our 6 year old had been well comforted.  They had thought to scour the car for things like a bottle, diaper bags, car seats and all the stuff we would need for a long day in the ER.

What they brought most of all was a load of compassion.  They talked to us in a humane way. They were gracious, communicative and did their job so so so well!  I honestly couldn't believe how kind they were.

We also learned weren't going to receive a bill.  An emergency transfer to a hospital is apparently part of our property taxes.

Vashon-spiration

Before we ever moved to Vashon and were living in Seattle we came over to buy a piece of furniture from craigslist.  It was rainy wet,  I was pregnant and we were trying to figure out some furniture for the baby's room. . .

So on this day trip we stopped at Cafe Luna.  We had coffee and a pastry and while we were there I used the washroom.  It was the washroom that convinced me I wanted to move toVashon.  No not the toilet or the soap or whatever, it was all the signs in the bathroom.  The events, the discussions, the classes, the sales...it all seemed like stuff I could appreciate in my community.

Winter Closures

The Vashon Bakery and Snapdragon are both closed for a couple of weeks.  I find this quiet charming!  After all shouldn't people be able to take vacations.

It does however seem to me that they would benefit from not being closed at the same time.  

The Ferries and the Seahawks

Basically if the Seahawks are playing in Seattle at any point during a given Sunday and you want to go to Seattle (via the north end ferry dock) on that day- schedule for at least a 2 hour wait (to be safe).  It is not because the lines in Vashon are necessarily long.  It seems to me that the difference is that the traffic from Southworth is so much more substantial.  Thus, the ferry takes on fewer cars.

As if I didn't struggle enough with football.

Island Lumber has Ladies night.

I just need to say that I think this is weird: Ladies Night Event at Island Lumber.  Apparently Children and men aren't just unwelcome. It is "not appropriate for Children or men." I don't even know what that means?!



 

And what is Family of Women? A band? Then it should say that!

Maybe I would be more into this if I hadn't had more than a dozen overt experiences of sexism at this place.  But I think it is weird. Very Very Weird.

Vashon Halloween 2015

Unlike any of the other years (this is only our 4th) having Halloween on a Saturday is shaping up to be more exciting for the whole community (maybe it's because this is the first year we have had a child in elementary school and a whole different level of excitement is at play)

Trick or Treating is happening Uptown (in Vashon town) from 5 to 7 with many businesses offering candy and goodies....

The O Space doors will be open for dancing and Halloween festivities.

And at a quick glance at several telephone poles when I was in town today there are lots of music venues, lots of specials on the menu, and a lot of fun all around.

Our family costume theme is weather----but trick or treating happens rain or shine.

Spiders and Fog- Autumn

Before I lived on Vashon I had never lived in the rural Pacific Northwest (USA).  And I lived in Seattle for 4 years before moving here.

There is nothing like the Autumn Spiders and the Autumn fog that make things spooky (or mystical?) here on Vashon.  Spiders were never an issue in Seattle.  We vacuum our house about twice a week (though you wouldn't know if you hadn't been here inbetween vacuums) but still the spiders hang out in the corners, on the air vents, behind doors.  I have killed many a spider that is hanging out on the wall.

The fog starts many mornings and can sometimes linger for a whole day.  A foggy day walk through the woods and I see many webs with droplets of water connecting the two.