Lost paradise …

Many of us have reflected on our blessings here at home on Whidbey Island recently. Warm, dry and surrounded by our loved ones and possessions, we cannot fathom the nightmare that has beset the people of Asia, India and Sri Lanka.

Many people will never be found. Miles of white sand beaches, whole villages of wooden shacks, restaurants and tourist hotels have been swept away by walls of water produced by a massive undersea earthquake off Indonesia.

We want to be help, but how can we be sure the largest percent of our financial gifts go to the people and not to administrative costs? The Better Business Bureau suggests we visit www.give.org to access reports on many of the U.S.-based relief organizations providing assistance in South Asia.

As with other disasters, financial contributions are preferred over donated goods, so needed items may be purchased near the relief sites.

Make a check or money order out to the name of the charitable organization, not to an individual collecting the donation. If you decide to contribute online, watch for charities who may imitate the name and style of a well-known organization. And when clicking on the link to “donate,” look at the organization’s URL in the browser window. Do not proceed if the domain name is hidden, is not familiar to you or is not the same as the one stated in the text of the link.

Do not give your credit card number or other personal information to a telephone solicitor. Ask to be sent written information on the charity’s programs and finances.

How do you know if your contribution is tax deductible? Visit www/irs.gov for a current list of organizations eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable gifts.

The American Red Cross is known for providing immediate and long-term support through supplies, technical assistance and aid to those who have lost everything. To donate online, go to https://www.redcross.org/donate/donation-form.asp.

World Vision is also responding in Asia, India and Sri Lanka. Go to http://www.worldvision.org.

Finally, you may give through UNICEF at http://www.unicefusa.org.

Lincoln turns south …

When USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) left Hong Kong on schedule last week, it headed south instead of north, straight for the region hit hard by the killer tsunami. The giant carrier is no stranger to relief efforts, having helped evacuate victims of the Mount Pinatubo eruption in the Republic of the Philippines in 1991.

Petty Officer 1st Class JOAQUIN JUATAI, formerly of Whidbey Island Naval Air Station’s Public Affairs, is aboard the carrier, homeported in Everett, Wash. While here, Jutai, a JO1 (SW), was selected as Navy Print Journalist of the Year for 2002. The award-winning writer said Lincoln’s crew is ready to help in any way they can.

In case you are wondering what all those acronyms mean, the SW after the abbreviated Journalist 1st Class tells you Juatai has just become an Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist.

“It was quite possibly one of the most difficult things I have done in my career, and by far one of the most rewarding,” he writes. “It took many long hours of study, walking through the ship to visit the places I studied about, and remembering important but obscure facts about Lincoln and its systems to earn the honor of becoming a Surface Warrior.”

And yes, having a warfare qualification is a necessity for advancement. It’s another check in the box and a step closer to putting on the anchors of chief petty officer, one of his personal goals.

Under the

planetary influence …

“Pay attention to details.”

“Relations with men are especially tense.”

“You tend to be on edge.”

Editor JIM LARSEN likes it when I pay attention to details and meet his deadline, and no, I do not ever want to pick a fight with him. If you think I’m wired, you should see the above-named Navy Journalist after a few of his triple shot cappuccinos.

These are but three of the warnings/predictions for my January experience, depending, of course, on the moon and transiting planets. I know. Free horoscopes are worth exactly what they cost and there are enough parallels to suit everyone. If the forecast is good, we send up a cheer. If it’s bad, it cannot be meant for us.

I thought I’d tried my hand at writing a horoscope for readers of this column, and here it is: You will choose optimism over fear; have faith that everything is working out; avoid those who are pompous, arrogant and intolerant; and believe in the basic goodness of people, but still read the fine print.

Do you have news to share about North Whidbey friends and family members? Write to me at lifeonwhidbey@yahoo.com or call 675-6611. See you next week!