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Newspaper Archive of
Shelton Mason County Journal
Shelton, Washington
September 7, 2023     Shelton Mason County Journal
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September 7, 2023
 
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Page 4 ~ Shelton-Mason County Journal ‘ Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023 woman in our neigh— borhood many years go was getting treat- ment for lung cancer. I saw her walking along the side- walk in front of the house one day — she was getting chemotherapy or radiation, I can’t remember which ~ and she looked weary. We talked for five minutes in front of the driveway. She was a wonderful wom— an, full of that rare combina- tion of optimism and contrari- anism that’s hard to maintain over a life. At the end of our chat, she had a question. “Could you say a prayer for me?” Um. I told her that was my wife’s department, but I did say I’d be thinking of her of- ten. She smiled and off she went. Mrs. Ericson was in the living room, and I told her about the encounter. My wife’s been a Buddhist since Avc'HHN RRN JA c5 LJ NHU‘SW"CJ$<2’3"§AR' SHELTON-MASON COUNTY USPS 492-800 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Shelton—Mason County Journal, PO. Box 430. Shelton, WA 98584. Published weekly by the Shelton—Mason County Journal at 227 W. Cola St. Shelton. Washington. Mailing address: PO. Box 430, Shelton. WA 98584 Telephone: 360~426-44i2 Website: www.masoncounty.com Periodicals postage paid in Shelton, Washington THESE TIMES her teens, and I’m not clear how Buddhists pray, or whether “prayer” even exists in Buddhism. But I figured it couldn’t hurt to have well~ wishes for the ailing woman coming from a variety of di- mensions: Protestants, Cath- olics, Muslims, Jews, Bud~ dhists and whatever I am. I did hope the woman recovered, and if hope is a secular prayer, I said many prayers for her. But I can’t bring myself to perform the l Shelton-Mason Comm] JOURNAL The Journal is a member of the Washington Newspaper Publish— ers Association. Owned and published by Shelton~Mason County Journal, lnc. SUBSCRIPTION RATES: $79 per year ($55 for six months) for Mason County addresses and $99 per year ($70 for six months) outside of Mason County. Single issue price $2.00 get—on-your—knees brand of prayer. I haven’t done it in years, so I’m out of practice anyway, I could have screwed it up and caused something really awful to happen. This illness matter arose a few years later when I re- ceived an email from a friend who had an “unexpected sur— gery” and was recovering at St. Peter Hospital in Olym~ pia. She was doing OK, but she asked to send prayers and love her way. I called the woman, and she sounded great, because she is great. She’s engaging and intelligent. We talked a bit about her illness, her condition and her progno— sis, and then I brought up her prayer request. I said I hadn’t prayed for her — tech— nically — but I had thought several times about her get— ting better, if that counts. She laughed and said she was grateful for the thoughts. Which bring us to this: I know the moment of my most recent prayer — actually, semi—prayer. It was June 28, 2004, the day our second son was born. He came out of the chute with the cord wrapped around his neck, and he was hustled over to a nearby plat- form that’s set up for new- borns if there’s a problem. I believe they’re called crash carts. He wasn’t breathing. Within 15 seconds, four people were hovering over him, clearing out his mouth and nostrils, doing CPR, operating a breathing bag, monitoring his Vitals. A doc- tor appeared from offstage to orchestrate it all. Commands and responses flew among the assembled. Thirty seconds in, a nurse said, “No pulse.” I started praying. As I imagined it, it would be one of those conditional prayers. If you spare my child, I’ll do whatever you want. I began GRATEFUL WE'RE FICIALLY OUT OF THE DROUGHT. 0% I THINK I'M OF 0 Publisher: John Lester Advertising: Newsroom: Justin Johnson, Editor Matt Baide, Reporter Kirk Boxleitner, Reporter Theresa Murray, Ad Representative Gordon Weeks, Reporter Kirk Ericson, Columnist/ Proofreader Front office: Dave Pierik, Office Administrator Karen Hranac, Customer Service Delivery: Jon Garza David Olson Niel Challstrom Design: Kim Fowler, Graphics Design Linda Frizzell, Special Projects Shawna Whelan, Photographer to produce the prayer in my mind: “God, if you save my child then ...” At that moment, Ryan David Ericson cried, the best sound ofa lifetime. I stopped praying and returned to life in progress. The worst and best moments in my life oc- curred within 60 seconds. Maybe Ryan returning from the dead was an act of god, if it exists, or an act of medicine, or perhaps both. Maybe it was Ryan’s choice. Maybe it was because of my prayer, and maybe god stirred him before I got to the commitment part be- cause an omnipotent being should know how one of its employees would complete a thought. What is for certain, though, is just how thin the cord is that attaches us to this life. I Contact Kirk Ericson at lairkéitmasoncounty.c0m All regular editorial, advertising and legal deadlines are 5 pm. the Monday prior to publication. To submit a letter to the editor, email editor@masoncounty.com. Office hours: 8 am. to 5 pm. Monday to Thursday. Closed Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and major holidays.