Septembers

Early September has always been a busy time of transition and change. It marks when the summer officially ends, kids go back to school and we adjust all of our routines. The beginning of the second week also marks Sidney’s birthday time. And now that she’s a teenager (!) she pretty much tells me how she wants to celebrate it. But the beginning of this month always feels like hitting speed bumps at too high a speed. Everyone gets jostled around a bit–though mostly that’s just to sort stuff out.

Of course in 2019’s September, we found out from a follow-up MRI that Ken had a brain tumor requiring immediate brain surgery. Even though the pandemic and the post-diagnosis period of care-giving fuzz out a lot of my direct memory of the last few years, the day before we got that news to the next day, I remember so vividly: the stark contrast between our cruising normal to the moment that life would never be the same. It’s interesting the way things sear themselves into one’s consciousness and leave permanent imprints.

Now early September carries a greater weight even if it doesn’t mean to and it amplifies the things that do happen at this time as well. For this 2022 September, the other added element is the Seattle Schools teachers strike (for which the teachers are completely justified in doing) and SPS’s dereliction of duty in negotiating in good faith. It introduces uncertainty where we’d like to have stability. That feeling of being in a holding pattern is all too familiar in this month and it feels like we can’t move forward. There is however, hope that an agreement will happen soon and the kids can springboard from a camp-filled, gorgeous Seattle summer into a functional, optimistic school year where they are in the oldest cohorts at each of their schools.

Another thing that has typically been observed in recent Septembers was the The Run of Hope, one of Ken’s pet projects & favorite charities which raises money for pediatric brain cancer research. Pre-pandemic, it was an in-person 5K run/walk at a major Seattle park but then it became a virtual event. Now it’s back to in-person. However, after giving this some thought, I am not totally comfortable with an in-person event of this type yet. I inquired about doing this virtually but they are not extending that option. Therefore, this year I’ve decided to simply make a donation straight to the event in honor of Ken. If you would like to do the same, please click on the link in the previous sentence to make a donation. Or if you are wanting to participate in the run/walk, the event is on Sunday 9/25 @ Seward Park and you can register here .

In the near future, I am going to be sharing more information about the Kesem Foundation, which is a national organization that supports children affected by a parent’s cancer. This past summer, the kids went to their incredible sleep-away nature camp, run in tandem with the University of WA. It was a highlight for both kids. This awesome camp was provided free of charge so all families like ours can have this positive experience. I look forward to supporting and promoting their crucial work of helping kids process and live with loss.