People who need people

I've just finished reading the two slim Sunday papers. Well, they're not so slim because the ad sections still make them pretty cumbersome when you carry them to the house from the paperbox. We are, however, reading less and less real news.

As is customary on the last weekend of any year, this morning's editions were filled with reminders of what happened in 2007. One of the big news items I think they forgot to mention on their lists of Top Ten's was the story about those who record the news. Their numbers have decreased significantly, and that didn't all happen because of war casualties. Economic factors have taken a big bite out of our daily printed journalism.

I continue to find that sad, but like anything disappointing, to lament the situation does not make it change. We move forward and learn to deal with what's to come, even with our newspapers. In two days, we change the calendar to a new year where a bundle of reflections for this time next year begin to unfold.

As I reflect the major news events in my life for 2007, I look forward to a better year in 2008. I've known deep sadness and frustration at many turns along the way. I've found it difficult at times to deal with these situations, but throughout my life a glimmer of light has appeared in the deep abysses. Sometimes it's hard to detect, but with constant help and support of people who surround me, I manage to claw my way out.

Which brings to mind more reflection. Always included among my interests of photography, gardening, hiking, horses, travel is the element of "people." Almost since Day One, the opportunity of meeting and getting to know people has always revved my engines, so to speak. In fact, I thrive in people situations, even these days when I often claim the deep desire to become a hermit.

Solitude is essential, but so are people. I'm discovering that factor more and more as I age and realize that we cannot solve all our problems by ourselves. I'm discovering more and more that the inclusion of new souls---even those with views and ways differing from ours---into our circle helps us continue to grow within our own souls. I'm discovering more and more and appreciating the constancy of good friends and family members who demonstrate their caring and thoughtful words at key times in our personal struggles.

As I look back on my year and think about the people of 2007, I see a myriad of faces too numerous to mention. A few stand out, simply because of the uniqueness of the experience. An afternoon and evening spent with Richard Benjamin from New York who'd come to gather material for a book was nothing less than joyous. Richard's appreciation for all the people he met along his way at the local fair and at various other stops was inspiring, to say the least.

I'll never forget the moments spent with my mother throughout the year but especially those days when her enthusiasm was bursting at the seams as she received a hug from Army Sgt. Brandon Adam who'd come home to Sandpoint after being injured in Iraq or when she climbed aboard Quest Aircraft's Kodiak turbo-prop jet for that ride into Spokane Airport to pick up Annie.

I gained a deep appreciation for all of our neighbors this year and wrote a whole column about their importance in our lives. I loved going to my former student Erica Curless' shower and subsequent wedding, seeing faces of former students and old friends I'd known forever. Almost all the weddings had that "local" flavor, prompting comments about how this familiarity just doesn't happen often enough around here any more.

Dogs and horses helped me meet some impressive women---Jane, the lady with 185 horses, 60 cows, dozens of cats and dogs, flocks of peacocks, rabbits and even some ducks at her Arabian ranch in Ronan. I won't forget Deb, the loving mother of daughters and nurturer of all those puppies who made their through the Love household last month. Both women left imprints in my heart because of their kindness and caring toward their animals as well as their genuine friendliness.

Earlier this year, one friend commented to me about the eclectic flavor of the crowd at the book launch in May when my Lessons with Love was unveiled to the public. I was proud. I was proud to say that "eclectic" is the way I view my association with people. I always have and always will.

I thoroughly enjoy meeting people from all walks of life, all socioeconomic levels, all levels of education, all philosophical persuasions. Each provides me enrichment. Yes, there are people I don't appreciate. I don't like rude, arrogant, thoughtless or deceitful people. I think that's a fairly common judgment. For the most part, though, I figure I'll probably specialize in happily adding to my "people" supply until my dying day.

Just last night, I made a new friend at the annual River Journal Christmas party. This is always a fun party because there are the familiar folks like George Eskridge, the Clawsons, Ernie and Linda and, of course, all of Trish's family. But every year a few new faces whom we've only seen in the paper join the crowd. Finally, we get to match a personality to the writer. Among them was Julie Hutzler who writes one of the three "Faith Walk" columns along with Gary Payton and Kathy Osborne.

By the time the evening ended, Julie and I had shared enough similarities in our lives to promise to keep in touch----coming from large family, love of outdoors, being surrounded by teachers, wacky senses of humor. I came home not so much excited about the nice gifts Trish gave each of her staffers or the great "Last Supper" at the Ponderay Diner but thrilled that my passion for meeting new people had been once more satisfied.

Julie, Gary and Kathy offer distinctively different voices of faith because they walk different paths. Nonetheless, all three aim for the same ends as they observe God working around them. Could that be called eclectic? I think so. That is the glory of this world filled with people. Everyone has something to contribute in the great smorgasboard of humanity.

And, humanity, as bad as it can act sometimes, sustains us all. People do need people. And, I be willing to bet that a really good bean counter could statistically prove that the good people far outnumber the bad.