Letter: Join group, start a journey, expand your mind, heal

Editor,

I am hoping that we can leave divisive politics for a moment and discuss something to bring us together.

In Jonathan Raban’s book, “A Passage to Juneau,” he makes a solitary voyage in a sailboat from Seattle to Juneau.

Along the way he lands in a remote island village described as a place where “loose ends naturally collect and lost objects are likely to be found.”

Oddly, the dysfunctional inhabitants help him begin to reconcile his conflicted life. I found an unpretentious group of volunteers whose weekly gathering gives me a bit of that reconciliation without having to buy a sailboat or commit to a four-month journey.

We gather for two hours a week sharing movie reviews, the latest political atrocities, a good recipe or the newest composite boat science. Views expressed are respectful, positive and tolerated. There are men, women, couples and singles.

Sometimes participants bring treats. I had the best cookies I have ever tasted there. I should also mention that we remove trash from our beaches.

It is incidental but extremely satisfying … a reason to visit our outdoors, a cause we can agree on.

We pick the beaches, talking as we go or going alone within our own minds. We are “loose ends” united on a mission to gather “lost objects” from our fast-paced lives. We are blessed that our beaches are some of the cleanest in the world.

Sadly, we always fill our bags. Perversely, we have extra good days as evidenced by the (pile of trash) that represents the effort of two people, 90 minutes and 1,000 feet of beach. It is the toxic dandruff of our society.

We never get it all. No need to argue or rant.

Newspapers and research journals provide the facts. Gatherings are attended by engineers, housekeepers, techies, assemblers, psychologists, housewives and just regular people like me. I made a living selling high-speed plastic packaging equipment and materials to Northwest manufacturers and processors. I guess I have a bit of conscience to reconcile as it collects on our beaches and clogs our landfills.

Before self-righteously casting me into jail, I ask who amongst us has not benefited from the miracle of plastics? Who can say they did not participate? Who has not been to Costco?

Start a journey with us. Expand your mind or heal in solitude.

If you stick with it, you will find more than trash. We are coordinated by a refreshingly understated, warm and welcoming Stinger Anderson from the WSU extension office in Coupeville.

No applications, no fees, no dress code, no pressure. All participants over 18 years of age are welcome.

For more information see stinger.anderson@wsu.edu or call 360-639-6060. You will get a great weekly newsletter.

Dar Christopherson

Oak Harbor