August 2026
Favorite Places
This picture depicts one of my favorite places in the world – Bowman’s Bay off of Fidalgo Island in Washington state’s Salish Sea. The place is ridiculously beautiful – nestled on the cusp of both Fidalgo island and Whidbey island the rugged shores display seals, orcas, herons, eagles and more while shaded by madrona trees, western red cedars and dramatic rock formations.
I used to live near enough to this place to kayak for the afternoon or simply read a book while my kids played in the sand and gentle waters. I have countless memories of this place and joyful days as my children grew. I have also conducted marriage ceremonies on this beach and helped families commit cremains to beauty and peace.
Just the beauty alone – although stunning – is not enough to count it amongst my favorite places. It is the memory and meaning of the place that gives it value. Regardless of the natural beauty, we humans can imbue any place with meaning and joy. It is a gift that we can share with each other through the way that we treat our neighbors, the way that we show up, and the way we love and share. I pray that we can make San Antonio one of our collective favorite places in this way.
Maggie Smith wrote this lovely piece called Good Bones that speaks to the possibility that surrounds us:
Life is short, though I keep this from my children.
Life is short, and I’ve shortened mine in a thousand delicious, ill-advised ways, a thousand deliciously ill-advised ways I’ll keep from my children.
The world is at least fifty percent terrible, and that’s a conservative estimate though I keep this from my children.
For every bird there is a stone thrown at a bird.
For every loved child, a child broken, bagged, sunk in a lake. Life is short and the world is at least half terrible, and for every kind stranger there is one who would break you, though I keep this from my children.
I am trying to sell them the world. Any decent realtor, walking through a real $#!+hole, chirps on about good bones: This place could be beautiful, right? You could make this place beautiful.
Many blessings, ISAA community, let’s make San Antonio beautiful – one of our favorite places - together.
Peace,
Bethany
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