Perspective from the 19^th Hole is the title I chose for my personal blog, which is meant to give me an outlet for one of my favorite crafts – writing – plus to use an image from my favorite sport, golf.  Out of college, my first job was as a reporter for the Daily Astorian in Astoria, Oregon, and I went on from there to practice writing in all my professional positions, including as press secretary in Washington, D.C. for a Democrat Congressman from Oregon (Les AuCoin), as an Oregon state government manager in Salem and Portland, as press secretary for Oregon’s last Republican governor (Vic Atiyeh), and as a private sector lobbyist.  This blog also allows me to link another favorite pastime – politics and the art of developing public policy – to what I write.  I could have called this blog “Middle Ground,” for that is what I long for in both politics and golf.  The middle ground is often where the best public policy decisions lie.  And it is where you want to be on a golf course.

Note to self.

This blog headline matters.  There is good news lurking around every cornefr if you just look for it.

Or this:  Don’t focus on what Donald Trump said to Congress last night as he promised to double-down on actions that are changing the face of the United States…I would say, for the worse.

Ignore Trump, both last night and most of the time as he functions like a reality TV host, not a president.

Find good news.

So, as someone who is sucker for good news about animals, including mammals, consider this:

BALD EAGLES:  Two eagles, a male and a female, worked for years to hatch chicks in California.  When two checks finally emerged a day or so ago, one at a time, it created an Internet sensation because a nest-side camera recorded what everyone hoped would be a successful event.

It was.  Here is how the Wall Street Journal reported the good news: 

“The first crack came on Sunday afternoon.

“Jackie and Shadow (the eagle’s names) cried out from their nest, trying to scare off intruders while a nearby camera zoomed in on the bald eagle couple’s three eggs.  The camera revealed a crack, or a pip, in one of the eggs — the first sign that an eaglet was trying to exit.

“It was a welcome development for Jackie and Shadow, the celebrity eagles whose nest has been broadcast live daily to thousands of devoted viewers.   For almost three years, none of their eggs had hatched.

“But Monday night, Jackie and Shadow’s long wait was over.  A chick with a light gray fuzzy coat emerged from their first egg.  Hours later, early Tuesday, a second chick sprung out of its egg.  Tens of thousands of people watched the nest camera video as Jackie and Shadow met their new hatchlings.”

DOG RESCUE:  In Texas, a dog fell into a well no one knew existed under a house.  The homeowner thought he heard the sound of a dog, but had no idea where to look for it.  And, he was among who had no idea about the well, but he found it, sort of.

So, he called firefighters to the scene and they performed a difficult rescue. 

Here is how the Wall Street Journal reported the situation:

“A firefighter crawled under the house — an aboveground duplex — and searched with his flashlight.  He followed the sound of the barks, which led him to an empty old water well.  When he looked inside, there was a terrified-looking dog trapped at the bottom.”

Performing the rescue was difficult because firefighters had to spelunk under the house and devise a rescue harness for the dog.

It worked.

Error! Filename not specified.“When the dog saw the firefighters face, he immediately stopped barking and began wagging his tail.”

And, after being rescued, the dog, a stray, is doing fine.  Plus, a citizen decided to adopt him.

MORE GOLF:  So, as I write this, I am looking forward to more golf today.  This sport represents an escape for me – an escape from worrying about what Trump is doing to this country – or other unthinkable problems. 

Golf is good news for me and many others!

So, I am thankful to be able to revel in the beauty of nature as I chase a small round ball around the course.

With friends!

What could be better than that?  Plus, when I return home, my wife and my dog say they will still love me, no matter how I play.

So, in conclusion, focus on being alert for good news.  You’ll find it.