Groundwaters

Who are we? … the Groundwaters Staff

Pat Edwards (aka Patricia Ann Edwards)

Pat and Jim Edwards

Who are we?… the people behind Groundwaters? I’m going to begin featuring writings that will tell you a bit about the personas of the volunteers who bring you Groundwaters each quarter. I’ve introduced you to Judy Hays-Eberts already. I guess I should introduce myself this week through the article that I wrote for our “Reflections” issue in January 2008. It will tell you a bit about who I am and what you can expect from me and my writings.

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Reflections
By Pat Edwards

I recently waved as my 65th birthday passed me by. Oh, I am aware of the years that have piled up, one on top of the other, but it is so amazing to realize that their numbers say to the world that I am truly getting old. I don’t feel “old” as I always imagined that “old” would feel. I do feel my body wearing down some. I no longer can pick up those bales of hay out of the field each summer, and the aches and pains remind me that my bones and joints have supported my body for a really long time. Even though I’ve slowed a bit from my youthful vigor, I still feel vital and alive, despite what the accumulation of years tell me. The realization of age, I think, tends to send each of us back into our past, to reflect upon and evaluate our lives – it’s a way of validating our existence. I am no different.

I think back to my childhood. My father was somewhat of a nomad. After living in one place for two years or so, we moved on to another. My brother, sister and I experienced new places and new adventures and lifestyles, but were seldom in one place long enough to cement long-term friendships. I was shy and kept to myself a lot, although I had my share of playmates. My daydreams always seemed to be centered around horses. I loved going to the library and I read every horse story I could find. As a teenager, I loved to write letters to penpals and to the friends I had left behind. Words became fascinating to me and I was told that I wrote well. Like many girls of my era, especially, I tried writing stories but, inevitably, my imagination stalled and I never got very far with them. I’ve always envied the authors who write fiction, but I never could.

I spent my high school years living my dream of having a horse of my own. Several summers of picking strawberries and beans, hoeing weeds in the same crops and row-bossing allowed me to buy Rocket, my best friend and constant companion in those years. My sister, my friends and I spent long weekends and summer days astride our horses, riding bareback, many times running full out along our familiar trails. I have had horses ever since.

During the one wonderful year that I attended Linfield College, following high school graduation, I loved the writing assignments and I discovered a real fondness for my music and art appreciation classes, as well. World history, math and science were my stumbling blocks. But, I made friends who helped me learn to have fun and explore my self-worth. The funds for my college education ran out after that first year, but I have never regretted the experience of attending college even for that short time.

Following college, I worked in a finance office for several years as a secretary. It was a difficult period in my life. My parents were divorcing, and I was trying to make my way through a world of dating with little knowledge of what was expected of me. I was still timid and naive and totally unversed in the realities of what “real life” presented. I had a baby out of wedlock and gave her up for adoption. It was a period in my life that I once tried to forget, but despite its harshness, it too helped forge the person who I eventually became.

As I entered my years as a young wife and mother, there was little time to do much with my love for writing. My husband Jim and I bought our first home on 30 acres between Lorane and Crow, Oregon. It was there that we put down our roots and raised our four children. While the kids were preschoolers, I was too busy changing diapers, nursing runny noses and doing the chores on our small farm to take much notice of what was happening around us. I only made one trip to town per week in those days – to do my grocery shopping and to take the kids to lunch. Once the kids were in school, I began looking around at life in my community. I immediately began involving myself in my childrens’ school and their activities. I look back at that time as if I were a flower bud, slowly opening to the world.

When our oldest daughter was old enough, I volunteered to establish a 4-H livestock club in Lorane that she could participate in. A neighbor/rancher was willing to lead the club if I was willing to organize it. I loved doing it so much that I soon volunteered to be the Lorane 4-H coordinator, setting up all types of new clubs for the Lorane area youth. I soon realized that I needed a way to get the word out about what the established clubs were doing and which ones were being formed. I began my first local newsletter called Pat’s People which I manually typed and mimeographed on the school’s old purple-ink machine. I distributed them at the local stores. I was soon shooting off letters to the editor about local issues that concerned me, as well. Once again, I was using my writing skills for not only others, but for myself, as well.

When our oldest offspring were entering high school, the Mitchell family decided to sell their store in Lorane. Jim had managed Mayfair Markets in the area for years and had always wanted his own business; but, the little Mitchell Store was not making enough to sustain a family of six. So, after we purchased it in December 1977, it became my new job. I loved working within its crowded dusty confines with the creaky wooden floor that slanted ever so slightly towards the back where the timbers were beginning to sag. I loved greeting the people who came in to buy a bottle of pop and a candy bar and to stand and chat about their lives. The loggers with their cork boots were confident that I would not scold them for walking on my very un-pristine floors, leaving bits of mud and dirt in their tracks. Every time I swept, the dust would always settle back on the merchandise even though we oiled the floors several times a year.

Two friends, Nancy O’Hearn and Marna Hing, helped me run the store during those eight years when it was in my charge. Like so many others, we all became interested in our own family histories when the television series “Roots” awakened the world to genealogy. We began extensive research into our own families and from that work our interest in our community’s history evolved. We knew, from Nancy’s own family history, that Lorane would be celebrating its 100th birthday within a few years. They asked me if I would be willing to write a book on its history – if they would help me research it. It seemed the right time and the right thing to do, and we pursued our goal for over three years. I bought my first computer and taught myself how to use it so that I could record all of our research in an organized manner. We finally published Sawdust and Cider; A History of Lorane, Oregon and the Siuslaw Valley in 1987 in conjunction with the Lorane Centennial Celebration.

When Jim took over the running and modernizing of the store full time, I searched for a full time job in town despite the fact that I had not worked at a regular office job for over 20 years. I took my computer experience to a temp agency which immediately put me to work. I was soon offered a permanent position at the Institute of Neuroscience at the University of Oregon where I used my computer skills extensively for 15 years. I gained respect and knowledge in my position there and retired with a confidence that my skills would allow me to succeed wherever life took me.

While working at the University, I began publishing another newsletter called the Lorane Historian. It profiled local people and businesses and I wrote about Lorane history that had come to light since 1987. The Historian was alive and well for three years until my lack of time and energy brought it to a halt. Since my retirement, I spent a year completely updating and revising Sawdust and Cider, incorporating some of the history from the newsletter and profiling the current businesses and people in Lorane. I published the new and much larger edition called From Sawdust and Cider to Wine in September 2006.

I’m now becoming more and more involved in the publication of Groundwaters, thanks to the confidence that Judy, Sonny, Jen and Pat have shown in me. They have welcomed me to their literary family and I am learning so much from them. I’ve discovered that no matter how much we learn and how long we have lived our lives, there is always room for more experiences and adventures. I have also learned that every experience, good or bad, in our past goes towards shaping the person we eventually become. Each of us leaves behind our own legacy. I am comfortable with the legacy that I will leave behind for my children, descendants and community because it is a part of who I have become through all of my own experiences.

So, despite the years that say we are old, as long as we have an interest in life and an eagerness to learn, how can any of us truly become “old” in anything but years?

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I am now the Managing Editor of Groundwaters. Judy has handed over the reins to me. I only hope that I can do justice to the confidence that she has placed in me.

Here are my writing credentials:

Publications of Patricia Ann Edwards

Edwards, P., (1974-1977) Pat’s People, 4-H Community Newsletter.

Edwards, P., (1986) BooBoo and Keno, A Children’s Book, 34 pgs.

Edwards, P.A.., N.S. O’Hearn, and M.L. Hing (1987) Sawdust & Cider; A History of Lorane, Oregon and the Siuslaw Valley, Bend, Oregon: Maverick Publications, 165 pgs.

Edwards, P. (1993-1997) The Lorane Historian, Community newsletter profiling local residents, businesses, and history of Lorane, Oregon.

Edwards, P.A. (1994) “Searching for Community Roots: A Novice’s Approach to Writing an Area History,” Everton’s Genealogical Helper, May/June 1994 issue, p. 12-13.

Edwards, P.A. (1995) “Searching for Community Roots: A Novice’s Approach to Writing an Area History,” Housewife-Writer’s Forum, Jan/Feb 1995 issue, 8(1):7-9.

Edwards, P.A. (1995) The Life of Ruth Kinsman, A book of memories published in honor of her mother’s 80th birthday, September 28, 1995, 179 pgs.

Edwards, P. (1999) Zebrafish Web Site Listings. Meth. Cell Biol. 60:373-385.

Edwards, P.A. (2006) From Sawdust and Cider to Wine; A History of Lorane, Oregon and the Siuslaw Valley, Bend, Oregon; Maverick Publications, 256 pgs.

Edwards, P. (2007) Writings and Poems of Elizabeth Tyler Brown (a compilation for the Brown family), self-published, 100 pgs.

Edwards, P. (2007) A Christmas Letter Diary, A compilation of 22 years of Christmas letters and pictures from those years; self-published, 159 pgs.

A Goodbye Letter from Judy (Part 2)

The Heart of the Matter
from Judy Hays-Eberts

Part 2

What does it feel like, to give this creative endeavor over to others, to step away while it all goes on without me? Freeing, flattering, and relieved, as well as successful and highly blessed. There’s a tiny twinge of regret that I cannot go on with it, but then there’s reality. The reality is that Groundwaters wouldn’t be happening anymore if left to me. I would have quit last year, except for the encouragement and persistence of those who have helped with it. My life changed dramatically and demanded adjustment. There’s a time to step aside, to allow for other experience. Service is very meaningful; however, one’s ego can get carried away with it. I’ve come full circle in many ways, which I appreciate and find appropriate for my age. I have been attached, but I am now free to go on. Please know, I still care.

I am deeply affected by so many individuals and so much of what was shared with me personally and for publication. I want to thank you and these other beautiful people. Some have passed on and are greatly missed. They include artist and writer Linda Hain, who contributed her work and counseled me along with her husband Earl; poet Carol McWilliams, who volunteered her help but died before she could proceed; Stephen Burton who was a main character in his wife Deborah’s Farming Escapades and who became a dear friend and beer-brewing buddy; writer Janet Romanek, who played many roles – organizational leader, mentor, strong supporter and friend; and my uncle Bob Hays, who embodied love of family and determination. Veterans of war shared stories that sobered us all. And, mothers wrote about the death of their children, which especially moved me.

I wanted to thank Pastor Phil Airhart who served at Valley United Methodist Church in Veneta, though he’s gone on to Twin Falls, Idaho. I wasn’t a member of the church, yet Pastor Phil gave permission for me to purchase use of the church’s copier for the production of Groundwaters before we obtained our own equipment. He felt it was something Jesus would do, and I was certainly impressed by that. It helped that my good friend Karen Vosika is the church’s secretary. Karen is one who doesn’t consider herself to be a writer, but she has contributed a recipe for each issue of the magazine since its inception. (And, hosted a yard sale fundraiser to help pay for the printer that has produced Groundwaters since Fall 2006).

I was originally inspired by the writer’s group with whom I met for many years, who included Sylvia Beltran, Sally Spaulding and Reneé Dodds. Aleta Miller truly helped flesh out the seed, too. Reneé volunteered as proofreader, along with Pat Broome, Lynn Fogus, and Shirley Overed. Sylvia and Sally took on some of the distribution. So, from birth, Groundwaters has been a group effort, mostly by women.

At first I didn’t accept advertisements. I had faith that Groundwaters would be supported and donations would be the bulk of that – as they have been. I didn’t want to be dependent on businesses or add to the load they’re expected to carry. However, several business owners kept asking me to consider ads. They really wanted to put their advertising dollars into such an offering. I am so thankful for all who patiently worked with us as we muddled through this process. Eventually, we developed guidelines and rates that were beneficial for all concerned, and advertising became another service we could offer. Non-profits have supported Groundwaters, too. We enjoyed being invited by the Rural Arts Center to Movie Nights at the Lorane Grange, which have been fundraisers for many community endeavors. The Lions of Alvadore treated us royally as vendors in their Holiday Bazaar last fall. And, Friends of Fern Ridge Library are certainly our friends, also.

Groundwaters’ subscribers are especially important as the magazine goes forward because they provide a firm base. Many have given “a little extra” as they’ve been able. They’re friends and neighbors, family, former teachers and co-workers, businesspeople, folks I met for the first time through Groundwaters, and even anonymous. Donations have ranged from a dollar to hundreds of dollars, and each one meant a lot to me and to the project. In addition, people donated and bought all sorts of useful things at the Groundwaters’ benefit yard sale in 2006. All are appreciated. There are too many names to list here; however, gratitude to you who have helped is expressed on page 2 of every issue.

I want to extend thanks to the faithful, who uplifted me often with cards, letters, and conversation. Stalwarts include Sylvia Beltran, Kathy Fox, Pat Gill – who would be president of our fan club if there ever was one, Millie Graves, Earl Hain, and Sally Spaulding. You and every person who showed interest kept me going. …And, I’ve been very fortunate to have the support of my husband.

Groundwaters is a beautiful dream come true. All these people and you have had a hand in it, yet it has a life of its own beyond me or any other individual. I like to describe it as a work of spirit, which means I see it as an expression of endless love. It continues to bear fruit of fine quality. And, it all seems to be coming together very nicely at this time. I am excited to see where it will go from here, with more and different perspectives. It will be of benefit without my influence; everything that brought it here is working perfectly. However, this is not the pinnacle of our lives; we still have plenty to do. And, I’m not going away; I continue to write and be highly creative. Who knows all the places we’ll flow?

A Goodbye Letter from Judy

The Heart of the Matter
from Judy Hays-Eberts

Part 1

I apologize for not keeping in touch. I’ve been like that with nearly everyone this year. And, last year I spent a lot of time on anger. My brain was on fire, as my acupuncturist described it. I’ve been struggling with myself, with things I thought I wouldn’t experience, with how I’ve used pain throughout my life. I went from being someone you could count on to being one who rarely follows through. Because of all that, I’m even more blessed by those like you who continued to support Groundwaters. I’ve missed the contact, but I had to step back whether I liked it or not.

Lots of people are in a similar situation, with intense chronic pain. I’m dealing with a degenerative condition in my neck and spinal column. And, I’m learning a big lesson about how the mind affects everything… Some days, I’m unable to drive or write or do anything but lie in one position; yet, I have access to lots of good medical care. How do people cope who don’t? I am humbled when I consider that a great many must live with more challenging circumstances than I.

It’s been a long process for me to get to this point. I didn’t understand it but I changed with the pain I was and wasn’t feeling, and in the last couple years I was incredibly rude to those close to me. A list of my shortcomings includes procrastination, dropping the ball, going crazy, single-mindedness, making things harder than they needed to be, being accountable but half organized and falling further behind, drawn in too many directions, abandoning acquaintances, and making more mistakes. For instance, I haven’t sent an invoice to The Farm Store for their ads in a long time. The Soverns have dutifully sent payment anyway. …So what does that say about them? Subscribers and donors have continued to do the same. My heart has been incredibly touched by such long-term devotion.

What a testament to the Groundwaters team and their work that they endured such a difficult time with me and continued to create something wonderful. In fact, they repaired the foundation of the magazine and started a very nice remodel! I am so pleased with the results. It’s been a success, and I’m not the glue that holds it all together. The spirit of this project lives on through Pat Edwards, Jim Burnett, Jennifer Chambers, Pat Broome (who was involved from the first issue forward), and my husband Sonny.

In June, ownership of Groundwaters magazine was transferred from me to the new LLC formed by the group mentioned above. I was encouraged to carry on as a member of the team, but I declined; though I hope to be a contributor as the magazine goes on. I’m still involved with the Groundwaters web site, as Sonny and I have retained its maintenance and development. The site is truly Sonny’s creation; I simply contribute to that, too. Sonny manages the site and Pat Edwards manages the magazine.

What is left for me to do? Be grateful. Has it been worth it? Yes! You and many other people made it so. Though I didn’t make money, I have been richly rewarded. I never wanted Groundwaters to be pretentious. It was simply offered as a gift from and to the community, a ‘zine that would feature treasures we might not discover otherwise. I promised its first contributors that it would look “no less spiffy than a large newsletter.” In the first issue, I wrote that “Groundwaters is an exchange of experience, meant to encourage closet writers and those who don’t consider themselves as writers. It features friends and neighbors and the unknown. Groundwaters is for those who listen to others, who keep an open mind, and who keep reading.” With that, I began to reap a great harvest.

I’ll share with you some comments from longtime and new-found friends, regarding the evolution of vol. 1 no. 1:

“Your idea to publish a ‘zine is a wonderful one! You will get so much satisfaction in putting it together, getting all the pieces in place. It’ll be hard at first, but I urge you to go for it! The rewards are there for you, for all who participate. Your vision of community is purposeful. I can think of no better way of achieving that goal than through the written word. Words are such powerful tools to move change towards common good. I believe all whom you ignite with your passion, your visions, will assuredly add theirs for an accumulation of ideas, energies and material. It will be exciting to watch, to help, to see the 1st issue of “Groundwater” appear.” ~ Sylvia Beltran, 3/04

“Thank you so much for the opportunity to write – because you asked me, I did, for the first time, in what? Twenty-two years? And to be published feels very odd. I just write press releases and policy, you know?” ~ K.H., 10/04

“I picked up your fabulous first edition of Groundwaters at Lee’s Hardware Store last Tuesday. Hooray for you! You recognized a need, and took the necessary action to satisfy it. Let us hope Groundwaters prospers and endures.” ~ Earl Hain, 11/04

In four years of publication, we’ve not received even one negative comment about Groundwaters. I asked for and received submissions of art (reproduced in B&W), favorite books and recipes, features by and for children, history – local and broad, profiles of small businesses and people in the community, personal experiences, poetry and short fiction, and words of encouragement. It has also been an outlet for community info and been embraced by local businesses. Copies were initially distributed through The Greenhouse Café in Walton, Kelley’s True Value in Veneta, Max’s Tires on Hwy 126, the Noti Post Office, Our Daily Bread restaurant in Veneta, Secret House Winery’s tasting room, and Fern Ridge Library. It just kept growing. From the beginning, it surpassed my expectations. The number of distribution locations tripled by the second issue. I predicted that Groundwaters would outgrow me by its third year, which proved to be true.

(To Be Continued — The second part of Judy’s letter will appear in next week’s blog)

Transitions

This is a continuation of the story I began telling you in the last posting, about the beginnings of Groundwaters…

Some of Judy Hays-Eberts’ early readers and contributors began offering their help with the publication of Groundwaters magazine. Two of them, Pat Broome, who published a story in the very first issue, and Jennifer Chambers, who came on board shortly afterwards, began meeting with Judy and collaborating with her on upcoming issues. I began volunteering my assistance in the Fall 2006 after meeting Judy for the first time when she profiled our store in Lorane in the Summer 2006 issue. Our relationship began slowly — I contributed a few things that I had written and offered advice on layout and content. In the early part of 2007, Judy began having serious health issues, however, and I took over the layout work of the Summer 2007 issue. The pain and the need to focus on her health began taking their tolls on Judy and she began talking about shutting down publication of Groundwaters.. None of us wanted to see what had become a cherished publication to many, end. Besides doing all of the layout work, I began taking on more of the preliminary decision-making and planning with the help of Pat Broome and Jennifer. Judy guided our efforts and contributed whatever writing and advice that her health allowed. Soon, my brother, Jim Burnett, began taking an interest in Groundwaters. He’s been a reviewer for one of the state’s writers groups for several years and volunteered his services as a long-distance consultant via email. He and his wife Jonni have lived in their RV headquartered in Portland, Oregon since his retirement several years ago.

Our goal at first was to just keep the magazine going until the end of 2007. None of us felt that we could take on the huge financial burden that Judy and Sonny faced each quarter and we were unsure how we could generate enough income. Even though Judy’s faithful readers and contributors were generous with cash donations, it was an income that could not be counted on each quarter. We explored the possibility of applying for non-profit status in order to be able to apply for grant funding; but the process of forming a board of directors, holding structured meetings and doing the vast amount of paperwork that would be required was more than any of us wanted to commit to. We also felt that it would take the control for what we produced out of our hands.

Judy began turning over more and more of the responsibility to me as the pain she dealt with on a daily basis took over much of her energies. I began trying to focus our group on identifying a solution so that we could keep the magazine going beyond January 2008. Thus, we all became committed to finding some way to make it support itself. I headed up a plan to seek enough advertisers to pay for the 500 free issues that we commit to each quarter. Judy was concerned that we try to seek the advertisers from outside of the Veneta area so that we would not be in direct competition with the publishers of the West Lane News. That’s just one of the many qualities that has earned her so much respect throughout the area – it’s an example of her heart and love for community. She has never wanted to intrude on her neighbors. But, at the same time, it makes it harder to find enough businesses in the smaller, outlying communities to meet our goal.

We determined that we would need to sign on at least 15 to 20 advertisers each quarter to cover the cost of printing and paper for the magazine. Subscription rates were re-evaluated and raised to make sure that they covered the cost of postage and supplies used for mailings during this time of ever-increasing postal rates. We’ve set our goals and are working towards the day when we can meet them.

In the meantime, Judy has determined that she wants to step aside completely and allow Groundwaters to continue to grow under our guidance. Five of us, Jennifer, Pat Broome, Jim, Sonny and I have formed a Limited Liability Company (LLC) that is called Groundwaters Publishing, LLC. I am the Manager of the business and Managing Editor of the magazine, and we will soon be moving the production operation to a building that my husband and I own in Lorane, Oregon once its remodel has been completed. Groundwaters Publishing, LLC will continue to have its roots in Veneta and much of our distribution will be in the Veneta/Elmira area, but the actual work of producing it will have a new home.

It has not been an easy transition. There were occasional clashes over misunderstandings, but we all kept a close friendship throughout. All of us are working towards keeping Groundwaters alive and well and we all have a tremendous respect for each other. That’s the glue that is holding it together for us and as we go along, that’s what’s going to keep Judy’s dream alive.

My next postings will feature Judy’s good-bye letter and later, profiles of our staff and our contributors.

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A Poem
By Judy Hays-Eberts
08/24/07

It’s a weight to be carried every day,
heavier and heavier
constant in its persistence
wearing on everything
inescapable and old.

It’s on the inside, an invisible load
always tethered, never free;
it sits on me when I sleep.
…Oh, to rest without that chain
and wake to freedom each day!

It’s a mountain to be climbed with no summit
in often stormy weather
and no shelter to be found
outside of a rare sweet dream
like the story of Heidi…

It’s a contender who demands attention
who beats me regularly
who stomps on my weaknesses
who ridicules my efforts
who’s there at every turn.

It’s familiar to many, old as time,
the subject of all stories,
the standard antagonist,
one’s own ancient odyssey
shared by all in birth and death.

It’s a shape-shifter, extreme in appearance,
gaudy or subtle or bare,
quiet or angry and loud,
ugly or beautiful –
all in the way one sees it.

It’s not going away as soon as I like
nor will it seem gone for long –
still standing when the door’s closed
with windows barred against it –
even when I’m not looking.

It’s a challenge to negotiate with it,
to maintain one’s dignity,
to retain one’s sanity,
to face directly and smile
as it tempts hysteria.

It’s a coat of many colors and textures –
remember Joseph’s story
(no promise of quick release) –
it precedes a bright outcome
yet feels like an endless test.

It’s a drama with despair in the lead part
until one finds the lost key
to unlock that fearful chain,
to loosen the grip of it
at its root deep in the soul.

It’s my companion, and you know its name.