12
Wednesday, August 26, 2020 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
Commentary...
How I found stillness in a pandemic
By Kelsey Tremblay
Guest Columnist
PHOTO BY JODI SCHNEIDER
Terra McSwain, DVM (center), joins Cassandra Lodge, DVM (left), and
Little Liedblad, DVM at Broken Top Veterinary Clinic just east of Sisters.
Love of animals came
naturally for McSwain
By Jodi Schneider
Correspondent
Dr. Terra McSwain, who
recently joined the veteri-
nary team at Broken Top
Veterinarian Clinic, was
raised on a farm in rural
North Carolina.
When kids grow up on a
farm, they learn the respon-
sibility of caring for animals.
They discover how to under-
stand and feel compassion
toward animals that can9t
communicate their feelings.
<I was always rescu-
ing animals of all kinds,=
McSwain said. <My love of
animals came naturally, and
their well-being was always
of utmost importance to me.=
Being an advocate or
voice for an animal is a
humbling field of work for
the new veterinarian. She
understands the close con-
nections people have with
their animal companions.
She added, <The ability
to work with both animals
and people appealed to me
since I am passionate about
client education and lasting
relationships. It9s challeng-
ing to say the least, but I feel
that I have the best job in the
world=.
McSwain earned her
Bachelor of Science degree
in biology from East
Carolina University in 2011.
She then went on to obtain
her Doctor of Veterinary
Medicine degree from Ross
University.
McSwain and her hus-
band, Mike, also a veteri-
narian, moved to Central
Oregon two years ago from
Florida, where she practiced
emergency medicine for
three years.
<Mike and I met in
See VETERINARIAN on page 15
I9m 30 years old. I9m
single. And I9m Canadian.
Well, I9m half Canadian,
half American. But I can say
hands down I am one hun-
dred percent the only person
in Sisters that can fit that
description. Probably even
just two of the three. My dad
moved to Sisters after living
in Cincinnati for 35 years to
be closer to his brother and
wife 4 my aunt and uncle.
I never thought I would
be spending the summer
after my 30th birthday liv-
ing with him in a subdivi-
sion where deer are basically
our backyard dogs. I never
thought I would be here, and
I certainly didn9t plan on
falling in love with it.
I was laid off due to
COVID in March. I work as
a set decorator for TV shows
in Toronto. My life is a con-
stant hustle and I am never
not moving. After a devas-
tating breakup, losing my
job and a global pandemic
all wrapped up in one month,
my aunt and dad suggested I
come to Sisters for the sum-
mer. (I made sure I did not
bring COVID to your com-
munity by being tested 4
don9t worry). After spending
four days as a line cook at
Suttle Lake (another <what
was I thinking?= moment in
my life 4 I clearly couldn9t
hack that) I realized the sum-
mer was going to go by slow.
Or, at least, so I thought.
Meeting new friends has
never been hard for me, and
Central Oregon held true to
its friendly reputation. The
people here are truly amaz-
ing. I have met so many
wonderful people from all
walks of life. I am constantly
impressed by the stories and
histories of the folks who
live around here. You all are
so tough, even if it takes a bit
to see through your soft and
gentle exteriors. Everyone
has such richness to them 4
it9s truly something else.
I had the pleasure/luck
to meet a friend who loves
adventures and, lucky
for me, is keen to having
a sidekick. I have spent
hours floating the Metolius,
Deschutes, and McKenzie.
Camped in the valleys of
Maupin and the McKenzie
River Trails 4 or what I
like to call <Jurassic Park.=
I have explored Portland,
Bend, Ashland and Sisters
(all the while safely masked
and socially distancing of
course). I have spent count-
less evenings walking the
neighborhood with my dad,
listening to the cows happily
bellow in the fields, taking
in the sunsets that light the
sky and mountains aflame.
In this quiet little moun-
tain town, where I never
thought I would find myself,
I found happiness.
It has been such a long
time since I have stopped
to breathe and taken time to
actually enjoy peace. To take
space. To be still. I know
it9s super sappy and prob-
ably trite, but I9ve worked
on enough Hallmark TV
movies that I9m OK with
it. I have started to see the
beauty Sisters and Central
Oregon has to offer. It9s
magic. And I really did
need to be reminded of the
importance of this. So this is
my manifesto to your Tiny
Community of Wonder.
Even if it took a breakup,
a layoff and a global pan-
demic, I am so thankful you
gave refuge to Canadian
city-slicker like me. Thank
you.
OU
DAY FOR Y
O
T
L
L
A
C
E IN OR
CE
N
A
R
U
S
N
I
FREE
N!
O
S
I
R
A
P
M
CO
COM
541-588-6245
257 S. Pine St., #101 | farmersagent.com/jrybka
AUTO • HOME • LIFE • BUSINESS
2003 BEAVER CONTESSA
3 slides, Allison/
Cu
Cummins ISL 370,
71K miles,
super clean.
Home Health
a th & Wellness Start Here!
Hot Tubs, Automated Covers,
Spa Maintenance Services
Traditional Saunas
Swim Spas • Essential Oils
Wood Stoves • Pellet Grills
Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Sat. & Evenings by Appt.
aquahott
h ub.com
b
541-410-1023 • 413 W. Hood Ave.
R
$
NEW CHEF
NEW MENU
Outdoor Seating!
Dine-In or Take-Out
391 W. Cascade Ave. | 541-549-2675
corkcellarswinebistro.com
64,900
Best Price!
No Hassles!
CARFAX Certifi ed!
Bring us your trade-ins
and low-mileage
consignments!
Sisters Car Connection
541-815-7397 192 W. Barclay Dr., Sisters
Hope for a child. Change for a nation.
Extended lockdowns have created extreme
diffi culty for many people in Uganda who
depend on their daily wages to eat.
Hope Africa International has been able
to meet these desperate physical and
emotional needs by providing food and
through outdoor, small group education.
Janith is 10 years old and has been
waiting for a sponsor for a year. Would
you consider investing in Janith’s life?
Sponsor Janith today at
HopeAfricaKids.com
Your monthly gift of $39 will provide Janith with
school fees, uniforms, shoes, food, medical care,
and the hope that is found only in Jesus Christ.
Your sponsorship pledge makes an impact on your child’s
life that is both immediately transformational and eternal.
Learn more about Sisters-based Hope Africa International at HopeAfricaKids.com.
This ad sponsored by The Nugget Newspaper
Newspaper.