Betty Udesen  photojournalist  Multimedia

One Voice

Wed, 3 Sep 2008 18:41:05 -0700

He's 80-years-old, and the bright yellow t-shirt is a birthday gift. The priest smiles, reading the words on the back of the shirt: "Octogenarians for Peace," then he gamely slips it on.

For more than three decades, Bill "Bix" Bichsel has come to the Trident submarine base at Bangor to protest its stockpile of nuclear weapons. This location is referred to as "Ground Zero" by some because, a mere 20 miles from the Seattle metropolitan area, it houses the largest quantity of nuclear weapons in the Western Hemisphere.

Diving 'Heavy Gear'

Sat, 14 Jun 2008 11:24:33 -0700

The diver wiggles into a pre-WWII suit, morphing into a life-size version of the classic figurine you find in fish tanks.

It's a balmy Saturday in March, and I'm photographing members of the Northwest Dive Equipment Group at Lake Stevens, about an hour's drive north of Seattle. Bradley "Mitch" Mitchell, a local collector of antique dive equipment, brought his gear to outfit the divers.

The U.S. Navy Mark V gear is called 'heavy gear,' because of its weight. When fully suited, Mitchell's vintage outfit adds 1.5 pound for each pound of body weight. His boots, 27 pounds each; helmet, 58 pounds; weight belt, 85 pounds.

Margaret’s Rocks

Sat, 1 Mar 2008 16:41:20 -0800

Margaret Rolloson has counted and carried nearly 4,000 stones.

She’d like to stop.

On Being 'Piggy'

Wed, 10 Oct 2007 02:00:21 -0700

I came across Piggy during one of my neighborhood jogs. Hearing a strange noise, and being ever-curious, I ran toward the source...

Guitar Lessons at the Central Area Senior Center

Sun, 3 Jun 2007 02:00:25 -0700

Lydia Goolsby doesn't mind telling her age-she's 81. "I'm older than dirt," she says, chuckling.

Now that Goolsby's retired and her time is her own, she figures this is her chance to learn how to play her guitar. She bought it when she was stationed in Japan, a half-century ago, but she's "been too busy to take time out for lessons-until now."

On Tuesdays, Goolsby heads to the Senior Center for an hour of guitar class and the fellowship of her peers.

The cost is $1 per lesson.

"My plan is to keep learning as long as there's a breath in me, " declares Goolsby.

Betty Udesen photojournalist Multimedia

One Voice

Diving 'Heavy Gear'

Margaret’s Rocks

On Being 'Piggy'

Guitar Lessons at the Central Area Senior Center

Betty Udesen  photojournalist  Multimedia