Posts filed under ‘Vashon In Your Words’
Letter from Vashon: Raising Children on Vashon
The rural Pennsylvania of my childhood slowly developed into a mega-suburb of Philadelphia, replete with ubiquitous strip malls, congested traffic, and decay in the quality of life. However, before all that, my early years were filled with outdoor activity, long walks through woods and fields, and a sense of security that gave parents confidence to let their kids play outdoors without supervision. Neighbors actually knew each other and the children of the neighborhood.
Of course, this led to my brother and me returning home at suppertime with such treasures as snakes, dessicated fish we had caught miles from home, and incapacitating doses of poison ivy. We developed a sense of self-sufficiency with our freedom to explore the world which grew through our childhoods. Eventually I developed the self-confidence as a young man to go wilderness backpacking for weeks on end.
Recently, a close family friend, a neighbor and a comrade of my Father’s, passed away. I realized that his personality and friendship was completely integrated into my sense of “home” . . . not a place, but a feeling of belonging to a supportive community.
I always wanted to provide my older daughter with a similar experience. But she was born in northern Virginia while my ex-wife and I worked for the government in Washington, D.C., and her world was defined by urban sprawl. We barely knew our neighbors because of everyone’s hectic suburban lifestyle. We made sure she had plenty of outdoor experiences but ultimately she grew up a child of the suburbs. Her world view is colored by that perspective.
After moving to Vashon, I began a new family and we now have a six year old in Chatauqua Elementary School (Go Pirates!) and a six-month old daughter. I cannot be happier to raise children in this wonderful community. The social values of this Island, environmentally, spiritually, and intellectually, will ensure that the kids have every opportunity to develop their interests in a supportive community. Perhaps more important, there is a widely held sense of support for people to pursue their interests as far as they can. What more could I ask for my kids?
Chip Lamason, November 5, 2008
Vashon In My Words: “I want to move to Vashon Island…”
British-born Seattle resident Matt Wright recently extolled the virtues of unspoiled Vashon beaches and the delights of simple, natural cuisine on his food-lovers blog. Wright’s site is described as ‘Recipes, Food & Culinary Adventures from a Brit living in the Northwest’.
Chocked full of gorgeous photos of Vashon, the writer and epicurean provides mouth-watering details of his foray into the offerings of Sea Breeze farms. He tells of his family adventures, the well-known warmth of Vashon Islanders and his dream of one day leaving behind the rushed pace of Seattle for a more tranquil island life.
No doubt you’ll love reading his detailed account of his family’s weekend on Vashon as it reveals the many simple pleasures of our Island’s natural resources and abundant offerings. Click here for his entire article.
