An Introduction: My 3 Wishes

How should I start? Should I do a “Dear Reader”? Just jump in? Who knows but all I do know is that I am so excited you are here and reading this introduction. I’d love to know how you stumbled upon my blog about Bellingham, WA.

Let’s think of this an an introduction to the Blog, dive deeper into why I’m doing and what I hope for it and me!

Why “I Love Bellingham”?

I’ve lived in Bellingham since 2013 and really truly love it here. I’m sure I could go lots of places and find similar things. But I’ve found over time I want to live here. There was always the running joke that people come to Bellingham for school or a job then leave to go somewhere else and will always return. My now, husband, looked at me and said after we graduated from Western Washington University, “What if we just stayed?” so we did and we have!

We’ve watched it grow with goodness and the pains that growth comes with. New businesses pop in, old staples bow out, but there is something delightful about seeing it happen without ever leaving.

Three Wishes for This Blog

I’m starting this blog because I enjoy writing, taking photos, stories and because I’ve done it for others for so long that I want to do it for myself. But I do have three wishes for this blog…

1. The Bellingham Blog Stays Curious

For me and for you. What’s this? What’s that? I never knew… Things that bring joy and curiosity to explore what’s already here. I find that when I operate with curiosity and commitment I have the most fun. And I want to have fun while I create this blog which is why most of it will be focused around community things, places to eat, just general stuff I enjoy about being here. I want it to be fun. So sure, it won’t be perfect. I’m not following the AP Style of Journalism I studied and there will be typos and random devices (like sharing inner thoughts like this perhaps?) that might be cringey, but hey, that’s what makes me happy and keeps me curious!

2. The Bellingham Blog Brings Serendipity

How opportunity manifests is always a mystery. One of my favorite words that rules my life time and time again is “serendipity” by definition it means: “the occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way.” Maybe it is seredipitious for me, a community member, a new business. Raising awareness and giving a voice to something so small, new, or old that it brings an opportunity of discovery and curiosity.

3. The Bellingham Blog Lives in Bellingham

More accurately: Lets ME live in Bellingham. I feel like I heard a record scratch or did you just scroll up to double check that I said I live in Bellingham. I do. Don’t worry. But if I’m being honest, I do have a real wish to put down roots in Bellingham and one marker for that in my mind is buying a home in Bellingham. We missed the 2020 rush to buy before the prices boomed and that’s okay. Renting in Bellingham isn’t that bad once you find a spot but I’ve had several landlords tell me they are going to sell where I’m renting — Luckily none of them actually sold while we lived there, either because the listing was overpriced or they had a change of heart — But twice in the span of three years does make you realize how fickle things can be. Will a blog help me buy a house? Probably not.

But it can help make me feel more at home with each story I find, update discovered, and reader who comes through.

In Summary - I'm wishing for the best!

Well, that’s it for now. It’s just a marker to note where I’m starting from, what I’m hoping for, and what direction I’m going. My manifesto bestowed upon me by my mom was to just, “Do What Makes You Happy,” so for now, I am happy with this post and look forward to exploring Bellingham and all the things in it with the next story.