What we wish for in 2018: Seattleites share their dreams

It’s a pretty good bet I’m not alone here.

I stare into the open maw of 2018 and see 9 million children losing coverage under the doomed Children’s Health Insurance Program.

I see Steve Mnuchin’s wife using that sheet of freshly minted dollar bills she held up at the U.S. Mint last month — in black leather gloves, natch — to clean up spilled Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare and dab the steak sauce from her lips.

I see another year of this and think: I just can’t do it. Nor can my night-guarded teeth nor my churning intestines.

So what do you do once you’ve screamed into every pillow in your house, drunk every drop of Sun Liquor eggnog you could find and stared out the window like a dotty old grandmother, remembering the days when leaders spoke in full sentences and didn’t spew hyperbole like onion dip at a Super Bowl party?

You take stock. You “get grateful,” as my late friend, Paulie, used to say. You continue to have faith that things will get better, because that’s what human beings do — and did, in times much worse than these.

And you ask local luminaries how they handle things, what they hope for. How will they face the new year?

(You’ll excuse Mayor Jenny Durkan, who was busy reading a proclamation to retiring Bakeman’s owner Jason Wang, declaring Dec. 22 “Bakeman’s Day.” As it should be).

 

Margaret Larson, host of KING5 Television’s New Day Northwest, Seahawks fan and metal head. (No, she really is.)

“We’ve all worried this year about social tumult and the harsh way people are treated and talked about. My dream for the new year is a concerted effort to be decent and kind, to build a stronger social fabric, to be able to disagree without degradation, and to respect everyone’s common humanity. We are one human family.”

 

Pete Nordstrom, co-president (with his brothers, Blake and Erik) of the Nordstrom department-store chain, guitarist in the bands Stag and The Dirty Bomb (fronted by his wife, Brandy):

“My dream is that as a result of the turbulent times we are in that we learn to be more respectful, thoughtful and caring to one another. Lets raise our discourse and actions to be more constructive and joyful. I leave ’17 and enter ’18 feeling very grateful for my awesome family and friends.

“Let’s value and practice kindness in ’18!”

 

Karen Maeda Allman, author events manager at Elliott Bay Book Company:

“I’ve been thinking about the power of listening, when listening is hard. And of listening to the emotions (maybe anger, grief, disappointment or something else) that might be behind what is being said.

“Listening is powerful for the listener as well as for the person who is being heard. I’m trying to become a better listener.”

 

Adam Zacks, chief programming officer for the Seattle Theatre Group, producer and founder of the Sasquatch! Music Festival and amateur existentialist:

“It is my goal for 2018 to not allow myself to get wound up and flooded with anxiety from our current political reality and harness that energy to stand up strong for what I believe, be my most authentic self and help prop up my family, friends and the community I love.

“I also hope that Journey will reunite with Steve Perry and that will set in motion a chain of events that will repair our world.”

 

Kevin Cole, host of The Afternoon Show on KEXP 90.3 FM:

“Live with intent, purpose, and passion, making as many moments count, contributing to a positive future — to light it up by helping build and serve a vibrant community of music lovers.”

 

Mary Larson, a nurse at Harborview Medical Center’s Pioneer Square Clinic and an artist who takes payment for her pieces in the form of sandwiches, cans of food, new socks, underwear and gift cards:

“Every December we host a holiday party for the patients at our clinic in Pioneer Square. It’s a simple gathering during which we share modest gifts of new socks and oranges with our patients amidst caroling in our clinic lobby. Most of our patients live far below the poverty line and most have no home.

“At the party, one gentleman told me that he had the event marked on his calendar for two months and said he wouldn’t have missed it for the world. Looking dapper in a dress shirt, a cardigan sweater and slacks, he brought with him an empty shopping bag and over the course of the party delicately filled his bag with as many oranges and socks as he could. When the caroling ended, he smiled, wished me holiday cheer, took his bag of oranges and socks and quietly departed.

“I wished we could have given him more — even though when you saw his face, you knew he was grateful and happy for the simple gifts.

“If oranges and socks could make someone so happy, I should be so happy and grateful. My resolution for 2018 will be one of gratitude … that I may be so grateful for all the oranges and socks I come across in the new year.”

 

Nancy Guppy, host of The Seattle Channel’s “Art Zone” and former cast member of “Almost Live”:

“This is what comes to mind: When I die, no one will recite my résumé. What people will do is tell stories — about who I was, what I was like and how I treated others. With that in mind, the words for the coming year are generosity of mind, body and spirit.”

 

Amelia Bonow, founder of Shout Your Abortion:

“The future will be unsurvivable outside of radical, symbiotically functioning communities. I’d like to see more cis-men develop the ability to emotionally care for themselves and others in the new year.

“For the rest of us, I’d like for 2018 to be the year of kicking dead weight. And of course, I’d like for abortion to be safe, legal, accessible, paid for by the government, and absolutely shameless.”

 

Tamara Murphy, founder/chef of Terra Plata:

“My hope is that our democracy will be restored and families will no longer be ripped apart by the current administration.

“I hope that our city government will embrace and support our local independent businesses, recognize our contribution to our city and our local culture and help us not to just survive, but thrive.

“My resolution: To find calm for myself and to never be complacent.”

 

Marco Collins, longtime Seattle DJ and subject of “The Glamour & the Squalor” (now available on Netflix!) and the photo exhibit “Nostalgia is for Losers” at The Bakeréé:

“I want to embrace 2018 with a much less combative approach. Less frustration and anger and more understanding and empathy. I look forward to actually being present in my life instead of a passenger.”

 

Jodi Brothers, co-host (with Marty Reimer) of Marty and Jodi in the Morning show on 95.7 FM The Jet:

“2018. OK. I want to stay politically engaged without daily blood boiling because that s*** is exhausting.

“I want to remain amazing at eating fancy cheese and drinking booze, but also be the kind of person that other people are certain has a very strong core under her sweatshirt.

“Finally, as I do every year, I promise to kiss many dogs on their mouths.”

 

Bernadine Griffin, managing director at The 5th Avenue Theatre:

“My hope is that we could be free of the fear we manufacture for ourselves so that we can be of maximum service to others.”

 

Luke Burbank, host of “Live Wire!” and correspondent on “CBS Sunday Morning”:

“My dream for 2018 is that we will somehow come to a place as a society where looking at social media in the morning isn’t the equivalent of running a cheese grater over my eyes.

“I want to start with myself, listening more and talking/shouting less.

“I’d also like 2018 to mark the year when I finally stop being so obsessed with what other people think of me, particularly my outward appearance.

“Also I’m hoping to lose 20 pounds, because man am I getting fat.”

 

Shelby Earl, singer-songwriter who in 2017 released her third album, “The Man Who Made Himself a Name”:

“My sense is that 2018 will be a year of reinvention, re-imagination and collaboration for me. I see myself opening up my creative circle and process a bit more, and incorporating new and unexpected elements into my work (and my life)!

“There’s a lot I want (and plan) to do in 2018, and I don’t know if I can get it all done, but inspiration is running high!

“And my only New Year’s resolution is to meditate for at least 10 minutes every day so I can hold some of this wonderful reflective space throughout the year to come.”

 

Cynthia Brothers, founder of Vanishing Seattle, a website and Instagram account that chronicle Seattle’s disappearing places:

“My hope and dream for the new year is that Seattleites become more invested than ever in this incomparable city and believe in their collective power to make positive change.

“Also, can folks quit using the corny phrase ‘world-class’ to refer to everything shiny, new and expensive?

“A resolution: Read more books, strike up more conversations with strangers, go to more shows. Although I do run a social-media project, I still spend WAY too much time with my face in my phone.

“And of course spend as much time as possible hanging out in Seattle dives and haunts and supporting local small businesses. We never know how much time the places we once took for granted will still be around. “