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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 17, 2019)
B2 THE ASTORIAN • SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2019 Photos by Ed Hunt A bronze cougar greets alumni and students at Washington State University’s Pullman campus. Pullman: WSU’s earliest years were all plucky perseverance Continued from Page B1 In the decades since, WSU has doubled in size and gained in aca- demic prestige. The costs have gone up as well. When I attended, however, Pullman seemed like a big small town. Unpretentious and friendly in the Eastern Washington way. I got lost and found my way. I got embarrassed, and learned that the only cure is to be the fi rst one who laughs. I changed my major and changed it again. I dropped out for a semester and then found myself welcomed back with open arms. At 18, you are technically an adult but your head is heavy with unearned confi dence. Plucky perseverance I worked my way through — with sometimes three or four jobs — but you could do that back then. One of my side jobs was writing articles about the his- tory of the school for state cen- tennial celebrations. Researching and writing stories of the early days at a tiny agricultural college cemented my appreciation for this school. The university was a land grant school built on a cabbage patch. WSU’s earliest years were all plucky perseverance. The writ- ings of the 13 students in that fi rst class are infused with a can-do attitude and a spirit of “we are all in this together.” It was a spirit that still survived a century later when I was there. These days WSU has campuses all over the state and a brand-new medical school that will be turn- ing out its fi rst class of doctors soon. You can be a city Coug and never set foot on the Palouse. Yet there is something about this landscape, this brick-built underdog campus far away from anything except endless exam- ples of bountiful agriculture, that I love. It is a place that helped me become the person I am today. Nexus of adult life Each time I visit, I hate to leave it behind, for it is the nexus point of my adult life. Alma mater, I am entrusting you now with my eldest daughter. On the ride home, we stop to pick a few sunfl owers growing on the side of the road. I ask Grace, my 15-year-old daughter, if she thinks she’ll go to WSU, too. “I don’t know, Dad!” she said. “I just want someplace I can take my horse!” Go Cougs. Ed Hunt is a writer and regis- tered nurse as well as the author of “The Huckleberry Hajj,” a collection of essays available on Amazon.com. He lives in Grays River, Washington. Ed Hunt strikes a pose with a sculpture at Washington State University, which he attended and where one of his daughters is starting her freshman year. Waiting for commitment Need health Dear Annie: I have been with my boy- ties that I used to really enjoy. I’m known friend for six years. He is still legally mar- in my friend group as a beer snob, and for ried to his wife, and his children are grown. I my birthday, a bunch of them wanted to have a great relationship with his family and take me to my favorite brewery. I also had children. The problem is that, for whatever plans with a woman I’m seeing to go on a reason, he keeps putting off offi cially get- wine-tasting trip. They understand about my ting a divorce. He gives excuse after excuse. stomach issues, and are open to resched- I love this man and his children and want a uling these events for when I’m healed. A home together with him. I have put it few have made jokes about I’m not DEAR all on the line: I’ve told him that if he fun anymore and how they can wait ANNIE doesn’t get the divorce, then I can’t for me to get back to normal. How- be with him. I don’t want to live out ever, I’m not sure that I want to drink my older years knowing that if, God again. After a couple of weeks with- forbid, something should happen out alcohol, I fi nd that I don’t need to him, I am pretty much left in the or want it. However, drinking is so dust, with no say and no rights as far ingrained in my social circle that I as he goes. I am desperate for help don’t know what else to do with my here. What do I do? — Losing Hope ANNIE LANE friends, or how to let them know that Creators Dear Losing Hope: You put the I’m not interested in drinking. Annie, Syndicate Inc. ultimatum out there — get a divorce how do I cut out alcohol without cut- or you’ll leave — and with very good ting out my friends? — Sick to My reason. At this point, all that’s left to do is Stomach follow through. Break things off. Either he’ll Dear Sick to my Stomach: Alcohol is take this as the kick in the pants he needed to indeed ingrained in our society (pun only fi nally get a divorce and come to you ready partly intended). When it comes to planning to fully commit — or he’ll let you go, and social activities, many adults have a hard you’ll be free to meet someone who’s more time thinking outside the bottle. Help jog ready to commit. Both outcomes leave you their imaginations: Take the lead on planning far better off than you are now. creative outings, such as hiking, recreational Dear Annie: I’m a 30-year-old man, sports, daytime picnics, and movie nights. and recently I suffered from a minor ulcer. Some of your friends might want to drink at Because of this, I’ve cut down on a lot of these activities, and that’s fi ne, too; the point things that I once loved so that it wouldn’t be is that the whole activity doesn’t center on as painful — spicy foods, coffee, red meat, drinking. And be upfront with them. Let them soda and alcohol. I’ve been really surprised know you’ve noticed you feel better when over the last month or so with how easy it’s you’re not drinking, and you’ve decided to been for me to follow this new diet. keep it up. I wouldn’t be surprised if some However, by cutting out alcohol, I friends fi nd the change of pace inspiring and also seem to be cutting out a lot of activi- decide to cut back on drinking, too. care now? When it comes to getting health care, Providence is here for you. • EMERGENCIES: If you’re having an emergency, call 9-1-1 or go to Providence Seaside Hospital’s Emergency Department. • WALK-IN CLINIC: If it’s not an emergency, but you need to be seen today, our walk-in clinic is open daily 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (no appointment necessary). Location: 725 S. Wahanna Road, Suite 230, on the campus of Providence Seaside Hospital. • EXPRESS CARE VIRTUAL: Want care right now? Have a video visit on your phone or tablet. Visit Providence.org/ expresscarevirtual Broadway St. 101 S. Wahanna Road Avenue S facebook.com/Dailyastorian Providence.org/northcoast
