Monday, September 10, 2007

All That Glitters

We have a gorgeous neighborhood along the western edge of our North End. The homes on this slope overlook the Puget Sound and the (now double) Narrows Bridge. I had the joy of walking N Vista View Drive and its connected streets and lanes on a cloudless afternoon of perfect temperature. What a great day for a dinner party on the deck!

The only thing that tinged my contentedness while walking this neighborhood was the awareness of my city's commercial bent. Historically we have tended to prioritize profit above people. We like money. But what does it profit a family to own a fabulous home and lose their soul?

Just north of N Vista View lies a gated community on Gold Creek Blvd. What do their entrance signs communicate to you?



My prayer for Tacoma is not that our prosperity would decrease, God forbid, but that our love for people would increase.

Saturday, August 11, 2007

On The Edge

I've been walking on the western edge of Tacoma's North End. Today I found a lovely ginkgo tree on N Vassault St and took this photo of one of its distinctive leaves. Considered a "primitive" species, here's a sprig of the leaves instantly fossilized in Adobe Photoshop, looking much as paleontologists find them (please click on the photo to see the detail):


The semi-secluded neighborhood of the ginkgo specimen is enclosed by Vassault Playfield on the north, N 26th St on the south, Pearl on the East and Narrows Dr on the west. Beautiful homes and gardens are interspersed with unkempt properties and dandelion breeding farms that must constantly irritate their neighbors. Ha, ha, that's life in the city! The best characteristic of this neighborhood is that it sits on a ridge, with the homes at the top able to catch glimpses of Puget Sound or parts of the Narrows Bridge, but it also has quiet cul-de-sacs shaded by giant horse chestnut trees. I saw that a friend of mine in the neighborhood has his house up for sale for $379k; I'm guessing his lovely house falls at near the median price range for that part of town.

Thursday, June 28, 2007

Personality


I walked 2.5 miles yesterday in a short window of time between appointments. The north-end neighborhood I visited — or was it the hazy marine air — was photographically uninspiring, so I'm sharing a shot of a Tiger Swallowtail, newborn and flawless, sunning on Kaaren's hydrangea.

But speaking of neighborhoods, each one has its own personality. As does each house, of course, when we stop to look closely. Yesterday's neighborhood, though in an upscale part of the city, had a drab quality overall. Most of the front yards betrayed a lack of attention. I imagined the neighborhood as housing a transient population, perhaps more focused upon upward mobility than upon deepening roots. There were the exceptional houses with beautiful yards; I remember one in particular with an exquisite rock garden set off by colorful plants. On the other hand, I passed a couple of houses with overgrown brambles and broken, littered walkways -- the kind of places that as kids we would have said were haunted. Today we'd more likely say they looked like meth houses.

My city's multiple personalities keep it fascinating for me. I find both the beautiful and the ugly good stimulation for prayer.

Monday, May 28, 2007

Tacoma's Asian Accent

Almost 8% of Tacoma's population is Asian. The largest subcategory of our Asian population is Vietnamese, followed by the Korean and Filipino subcategories. Our Asian population continues to grow and is for now staying ahead of our Hispanic/Latino population numerically. In the year 2000, 48% of our immigrants were from Asia.

Tacoma doesn't have a Chinatown like other West-Coast cities our size, because of our infamous expulsion of the Chinese in 1885 (see post of August 19, 2005: City of Reconciliation). Nevertheless, the presence of our multicultural Asian community is visible in its several Buddhist temples, its many Korean Christian churches, and its beautiful flower gardens often accented with miniature pagodas or other Asian ornaments. My fellow-walker Marcus and I happened upon this large Buddha head on N 31st St.

As I walk, I pray for the different individuals and people groups that come to my attention. I'm hoping to learn more about the needs and aspirations of our Asian neighbors this year.

Saturday, May 26, 2007

New Walking Partner


My grandson, Micah Rios, came on the Tacoma walk with me today. Well, okay, he rode while his dad, Ted, pushed. Nevertheless he covered about 3 miles with me in the N Commencement Bay Drive neighborhood. With his ready ear he drew our attention to every lawn mower roaring on this hazy Memorial Weekend Saturday. Lawn mowers fascinate Micah, and we hope he will retain his interest when he's old enough to push one! And yes, those are Crocs he's wearing with Cars doodads stuck in the holes.

Among other things, Ted and I talked about the Asian influence on the culture of our city.