Not me. I am talking about the next generation.
They struggle to pay off the debt, to buy a house, to pay for day care. They worry about their families, the planet, their community, their state, their country.
Sure, I did that. But I wasn’t very good. I skipped some time with my family to make an extra buck. I put off any community involvement until the kids were out of high school.
I did do the coroner thing.
But we do have young heroes amongst us.
For some reason tonight I Googled Garrett Strizich. It was so satisfying to see he has started the practice of Medicine in Sandpoint, Idaho, his hometown. He and his wife Emily are Idaho heroes.
I first met this guy with his partner in crime, Luke Mayville here in Moscow. I had just been ousted from my Idaho Senate seat. I had fought for Medicaid Expansion for Idaho. I had been ignored. And voted out.
I knew the numbers. They did too. Medicaid Expansion made good financial sense for Idaho. But they knew it made more sense in their way. The human way. These young guys were wiser than this old guy.
These two guys who met me in front of the Moscow Co-op wanted me to run for Governor. They had a plan to get Medicaid Expansion onto the Idaho ballot, and they had a plan to convince Idaho voters to support it. And they wanted my run for Governor to carry that message.
I chickened out. But that’s about me. A chicken.
I did try. But I found I didn’t have enough money. I couldn’t raise a team. I couldn’t do the old style politics.
But Garrett and Luke and Emily weren’t old style.
Garrett was a WWAMI medical student, like I had been, 30 years before.
But he was devoted to this issue. As was his wife, Emily. Honestly, she carried the ball as much or more than he did. Maybe that’s the way. Shared effort.
Luke and Garrett and Emily and hundreds of other volunteers they inspired got it done. They even got retiring Governor Otter to support Medicaid Expansion.
It was a big win. Garrett, Emily, Luke must be proud.
I am. They are my heroes.
So I Google, not having talked to Garrett since he and Emily came back here to Moscow to accept their award a few years back. Shame on me for not keeping in touch. I hope Garrett and Emily find Sandpoint and Idaho a healthy place to practice medicine and raise a family. It can be hard.
I am so inspired that Garrett and Emily came back to Idaho, and to his hometown, even though he was under no obligation. Idaho now requires the students we support to return here. He and Emily came back of their own. Maybe the felt some sense of place, some purpose.
Idaho is lucky to get such heroes to come back amongst us.
We must be growing heroes amongst us.
I am greatly heartened that such a hero, and his wife Emily, a true hero too are among us. It gives me hope.
This is how we build heroes amongst us.
We pay attention. We talk with them. Some are fools. Some are wise. We get to make the call.
If they are stupid, we move on.
If they resonate, we jump in. Our wisdom guides us.
We need heroes amongst us.
Sometimes a simple nod or smile tells them to keep fighting.
You have supported these heroes. Keep it up,
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