Laura Hartema

About Laura Hartema

I’m Laura: ecologist, author, traveler, lover of life, and good at being happy.
13 January 2018

S*hole Circumstance? Welcome.

By | 2018-01-13T08:39:53+00:00 January 13th, 2018|

Excuse the expletive, but “S*holes?” (*This is POTUS’ latest way of saying impoverished and underprivileged countries), S*holes are the places I love most. Why? Because sometimes it takes going to impoverished regions to appreciate all we take for granted in this country—luxuries like safe drinking water, a flushing toilet, consistent electricity, and that thing called [...]

25 December 2017

Be The Kindness

By | 2017-12-25T08:40:08+00:00 December 25th, 2017|

A good friend and I annually commence our Christmas tradition at Seattle’s Metropolitan Grill with two glasses of bubbly. After clinking our long-stemmed flutes in a toast to our long-lasting friendship and another year of blessings, we indulge in my three favorite food groups: cabernet, steak and cake. This night is awesome and equivalent [...]

10 December 2017

A Brave Hello

By | 2017-12-11T15:44:08+00:00 December 10th, 2017|

I stand at a bus stop under falling leaves. Two women sit side-by-side, leg-to-leg on a bench. They are over seventy, I guess, seniors for sure. Their eyes appear darkly rimmed in eyeliner, but no, their teardrop shape is natural. Their teeth, though aged, glow against their ruby lips and dark skin. They are [...]

19 June 2017

Photobomb

By | 2017-12-11T15:49:47+00:00 June 19th, 2017|

“Laura, you don't need a flag. You are a flag. You could use a baton though,” one of my coworkers says to me as I, in my flowy kaftan, lead my parade of eight through the busy intersections of Pioneer Square like a marching ringmaster. Or maybe a crossing guard jogging it out with high-knees? [...]