E D I T O R ’ S L E T T E R
Finding Joy in Moments Big & Small
Have you noticed the joy people have for life lately ? In July my husband and I took our first family vacation since the pandemic . Everywhere we went , people were filled with an exuberant passion for even just the littlest of things .
A beer on a sunny day . An afternoon stroll . The discovery of a new artist at the local farmer ’ s market .
You could watch the smiles spread from person to person . Even waiting in line felt like a treat . The collective ‘ we ’ was back together and somehow the
Mikaela Judd , Editor
bustle of life was like a shot of adrenaline .
What hit me particularly was that the talk of getting ‘ back to normal ’ seemed to have shifted . As I witnessed friends gather , couples date , families reunite , and individuals spread their wings — there was an innate desire to hold onto this new sense of joy .
From the big milestones to the simplest of moments , it ’ s as though we ’ ve discovered just how precious life is . And I for one , am glad for that . This is a new normal that I ’ d like to see stick around .
It was with this passion in mind we crafted the Summer / Fall 2021 issue of rick takagi photo explore : NW . We hope you ’ ll enjoy wandering The Burke-Gilman Trail — soaking in the views , art , and local businesses throughout the Greater Seattle area ( p . 30 ). We strongly encourage you to stop along the way to savor everything from pastries and seafood to celebration worthy pints — especially those at Carin Brewing in Kenmore ( p . 25 ).
Discover the charm of packing up your family for a weekend island hopping in the San Juan Islands — where the hikes are plentiful and the beaches divine ( p . 40 ). I particularly gravitated to how Lisette Wolter-McKinley encouraged her children to try new foods ( like lavender spiked cookies ) and collect meaningful souvenirs ( including locally thrown pottery ).
Or perhaps wine and a tee time are bit more your style . In which case , Walla Walla is just a hop , skip and a flight away . And as Rick Turner shares , this Washington gem is a city “ so nice , they named it twice ” ( p . 46 ).
While I am clearly in favor of celebrating the things we perhaps once took for granted , I ’ d like to also invite you to celebrate the milestones . The big moments . Because they don ’ t come every day — like Kenmore Air ’ s 75th anniversary ( p . 34 ). Though a little airline , this family-owned and operated business has accomplished an impressive feet — it ’ s been flying the Pacific Northwest for 75 years .
So whether you ’ re planning one of your first adventures in this ‘ new normal ’ or your celebrating a big moment — let yourself be fully present . Let yourself savor every bit of the experience . Because we can all attest just how precious this thing called life is . kenmoreair . com
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