November Twenty-Twenty-Five

In honor of our sweet friend Ron Eckert who passed away unexpectedly on November 2nd, I wanted to share a text I got from him in the spring of 2024 that is so poignant and worth reading again and again.

"Every so often I enjoy a late afternoon latte on a chilly MN afternoon. The added dose of espresso provides good closure to any given day with some complimentary energy towards the evening ahead. This week, while ordering a latte at one of my local favorite gathering spots, I uncharacteristically added another “shot” to my normal drink order. After hearing my order, a barista, behind the counter noted, “would you rather have a quad shot? That’s 4 shots as they come in two’s!” I paused for a moment and said, “perhaps 4 shots may be a tad much for today.” No sooner had I spoken the other young barista Thomas, who had just finished my beverage handed me a well-crafted 4 shot latte and said, Ron…“ just Sip Slow!”

Sip Slow…brilliant Thomas! Sip slow and enjoy the beverage. Sip slow in a world that has always been running at a quadruple shot pace.

Emily, as you enter this week preparing yourself to shape young minds with creativity and zest, it will be my hope that you have plenty of opportunities to sip slow as you help loosen the grip of college kids drive to present and promote rather than find their unique voice. Sip slow as you capture moments of wonder while running the soggy paths and street of Seattle. Sip slow while doing the mundane and ordinary things of life while being more present to perhaps some divine interruptions all around you. Sip slow while reading alongside Jason to close out the night. Sip slow as you connect with one of your many friends from a wide and growing community. Sip Slow…. as you shape this quadruple shot world and the children it holds with a pace that is all your own.

rev ron:)"

💛🍂💛

Below are a few snapshots from November of times I'm trying to sip slow....

Mason Lake Veteran's Day Tradition 

Thanksgiving Reflections 2025 

Running 13.1 miles as the Very Hungry Caterpillar (because why not?) 

Running 13.1 as the Very Hungry Caterpillar

My friend Maegan offered two free entries to the Seattle Half Marathon to Anna and me at the last minute on Friday night. By Saturday evening, we had pulled together a hilarious costume: I grabbed this tunnel on Facebook Marketplace on my way to take my folks to the airport Saturday morning and then picked up a tiny hat previously worn by a friend’s almost-2-year-old for Halloween. Fun was had by all!

We had some inspiration from this hilarious video: 

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DBmaHqzqZdZ/?igsh=djZndDlzandteXh4

And then we came up with this: 

https://youtube.com/shorts/yLFgAtO1Qsg?si=Ywd_v4KMD1xlf_R6

We strapped the tunnel on with our running backpacks and it held up great for 13.1 miles! 

random guy passing out bacon on the course to runners--- 😂

The antennae were a little floppy, but these were not details I was paying attention to while running 13.1 miles with a tunnel strapped to my back  😂

running into Erika (from Vision 16) during the race and at the finish! 

Anna ROCKED this thing. She's been climbing more this fall in Alaska and has only gone running a few times. Quite the ramp up to just hop into a half marathon today. Way to go, Anna!! 

Ideas for next year: 😂

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQR1Yx_Eegl/?igsh=MTVjdG53ZnFncTF1bQ==

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRTX6jek4LH/?igsh=MWJsaXR3ZnFsdnBkdQ==

 

Cheers to 83 Years!

Papa- we love you so! 

Cheers to 83 years!!!

Forest Bathing

 

Such a magical trail to enjoy for some forest bathing on this day after Thanksgiving! 

Middle Fork Snoqualmie River Trail — Washington Trails Association

Thanksgiving Day 2025

 

So. Very. Thankful. 

and so very thankful for Anna fixing the dishwasher before guests arrived---

yay for Youtube videos to problem solve just in the nick of time... 

thankful for happy reunions.... 

 

thankful for good food (and an Indian theme this year with Ratnakar's biriyani main dish) 

thankful for the chance to host Catherine Cole (prof at UW and friend of Sikose's)

thankful for Hannah who joined us for dessert 

Thanksgiving 2025

Three words rise up
when I think about this past year:
soft, grounded, tender.

I’m grateful for Harborview—
for the chance to learn in a place
where those words
rolled off Zach’s tongue
as he told me why he keeps coming back.
This place helped me stare down
my own behaviors and patterns,
and it keeps giving me
perspective about what matters most.

So on this Thanksgiving,
I pause.
I try to take it all in—
even for a breath,
even for one small,
holy second.

“Oh, Earth, you are too wonderful
for anybody to realize you.
Do any human beings ever realize life
while they live it—every, every minute?”

Here are a few memories
from this past year
that surface when I try to lean in
and savor
every, every minute.

Microspikes were a gift this winter,
letting us play in the snow
and marvel at waterfalls frozen in midair.
And spring had its own happy miles waiting for me-
running home from Harborview each week
delighted by the sound of Pasquale Santos

playing violin in the light rail station,
racing through the dark in Zion National Park

or around the Ancient Lakes
with a bunch of badass ladies,
and running through sunflowers
with our chosen family-
these were all moments that brought joy.

Mountains beyond mountains
filled my cup this summer.
Trail magic with Anna, Taylor, and Jason
carried me through the North Cascades.

I clung to Taylor’s words
on Dragontail Peak
to get me to the finish line
of the marathon on the Iron Horse Trail:
Just watch my feet.
Don’t look too far ahead.
One step at a time.

Walking the Camino—
beauty all around,
and the gift of simply being
with one another.
The art of “with-ing.”
That was the treasure.

The drive to Alaska was spectacular-
and “stupid pretty,”
as Anna said so well.
What a gift to soak up the beauty
and the time together,
rubbing the sponge of gratitude
over every last thing.

And tutus—yes, tutus.
Green for cactus, blue for clouds.
Hikers turned sugarplum fairies,
delighted by our mountain high.

And then the Dicks-a-thon—
everything I love
rolled into one:
costumes, running,
a moving story,
a worthy cause,
a solid challenge,
good time with a friend,
and just the right amount
of ridiculousness.

Through so many unknowns this year,
I’ve learned to ask for what I need—
a hand to hold,
and just enough light
to keep going.

The year ahead will hold uncertainty—
I can count on that.
But I’ve learned how to lean,
how to put weight
on the downhill ski,
how to trust the next foothold,
how to take it all
one step at a time—
so that I can remain
soft, grounded,
and tender.