The Monk's Trail

We leave next week for Europe with a focus on the "Monk's Trail," a route that follows the journey of Albert, a 13th-century Abbot from Germany who documented his pilgrimage to Rome. The route is nearly 2,200 kilometers long, passing through the center of the Alps from Germany on the north, through Austria, and on to Italy in the south.

Initially, the plan is to thoroughly explore Munich, the home of the world-renowned "Octoberfest" before venturing to nearby attractions like the castles of "Mad" King Ludwig II -- Hohenschwangau, Neuschwanstein (below) and Linderhof -- and other nearby attractions like Der Zugspitze, the highest point in Germany, and Adolf Hitler's "Eagles Nest."

From Munich, we'll travel by train through the Alps over Brenner Pass into Italy's northern city of Bolzano in South Tyrol near the Dolomites. The plan is to visit the Messner Mountain Museum established by Reinhold Messner, one of the world's most renowned mountaineers known for his alpine-style techniques and minimalist approach to climbing.

Next, we'll hop another train bound for Genoa and the Italian Riviera. We'll explore Portofino and Portovenere, and visit family in Isolona. All along the way, from Munich to Genoa, I will interview willing participants interested in discussing the current state of affairs in the United States of America for my first podcast, tentatively titled Rooftop Ramblings.

Things My Nonna Used To Say

Growing up in a matriarchy with my Italian grandmother (above left, with her sister) and my mother while my father taught school in remote locations in Oregon, my brother Robert and I learned much about Nonna's expressions and witticisms, including colloquialisms and idioms unique to the Province of Liguria and the Province of Piedmont in northern Italy. Each and every expression had a parable with a specific point.

Nonna expression: "Il pesce puzza dalla testa." Literal translation: "An old fish smells from the head down." Subtext: "Certain groups smell from the top echelon." Gonzo perspective: "As much as today's Republican Party stinks to high heaven, it's much worse at the top of this dung heap."

Nonna expression: "Labito non fa il monaco." Literal translation: "The habit doesn't make the monk." Subtext: "Don't believe everything you see on the internet." Gonzo perspective: "Just because you believe some Asian beauty is hitting on you on social media doesn't mean she really isn't some big ugly dude with excessive nose hair who is trying to rip you off."

Nonna expression: "Chi nulla sa, presto parla." Literal translation: "The empty head speaks first." Subtext: "Those who know the least have the most to say." Gonzo perspective: "How will we know the difference between Herr Gropenfuhrer's technicolor yawn compared to actual onset of dementia?" 

Nonna expression: "Chi sta a casa, sta secco, e chi esce, s'ingrandisce." Literal translation: "Those who stay at home will shrink up like a prune. But those who go out will go into full bloom." Subtext: "Learning is experience. Everything else is just information." Gonzo perspective: "After being sidelined for the last few years, it's high time to get out and about."

Along those lines, a trip to The Motherland (below, Nonno and Nonna) and more is on tap this summer for the first time since before the pandemic, with stops in Munich, Bolzano, Torino, Genoa and the Italian Riviera on the agenda. After all, travel is one of life's great teachers, revealing a world of cultures and people to meet, including family. More to come.

Going Up?

On May 22, the UO Chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America returned to Portland for another action-packed professional development tour before the end of the school year in June. Our first stop in the City of Roses was Maxwell Public Relations, an independent, woman-owned brand communications agency, where we were joined by my colleague Dianne Danowski Smith, APR, Fellow PRSA.

Maxwell PR, located in the Lair Hill neighborhood, works with consumer brands to help strengthen local economies, such as the City of Astoria, while nurturing human connection and opportunity. To my great delight, the agency's presentation was facilitated by Maxwell PR Account Director Jessica Lee, a former student in my public relations classes at the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication.

Next up was We Communications, a global communications and integrated marketing agency locate in the Pearl District. Packing too many of us at once into the elevator, the car jerked abruptly, then stopped, so two of us exited quickly and took the stairs. Meanwhile, the rest of our group remained stuck in place for about 20 minutes until help arrived. Yet as you can see, nobody panicked during "The Great Elevator Caper."

Once our full cohort was in place, the We Communications team provided a comprehensive interactive session focused on describing their work with national and international clients with emphasis on the intersection of technology and humanity.  Much to my surprise, the We Communications team in Portland also included several former students and advisees, including Sophie Ey, Megan Connor and Daphne Martin.

At the end of the day, it was yet another fabulous UO PRSSA professional development tour thanks to the professionals at Maxwell PR and We Communications, with a tip of the fedora to Shaelyn Ross and Riley Severino for coordinating the junket to Portland. The last UO PRSSA trip of the year was the perfect complement to the group's trip to New York City in February. Thanks to all the professionals we've seen in 2024-25, and despite "The Great Elevator Caper," these aspiring public relations professionals have no place to go but up!

A Boy And His Dog

We met on a sunny but crisp January morning in 2012 at Sand Dunes Kennel in Florence, Oregon. She was one of eight English creme golden retrievers bundled in a corner of the kennel. Most of the others were sleeping or feeding. But this pup walked across the kennel to the base of my feet and untied my shoes. "This one has moxie," I said aloud. "She is the one."

We spent the next 13+ years together with our canine companion, much beloved by our entire family. We took trips galore to the beaches of the Oregon Coast and the hinterlands of the Cascade Mountains. She was our resident alarm system as she patrolled the perimeter of our fence. She had escaped death before. But on March 21, she passed.

The family is devastated. Moxie has been by my side for 18 percent of my current life span, and an integral part of our lives for well over a decade. It's been difficult for me to reconcile. My heart insists it's still mending. But my mind tells me to remember all the good times, all the funny moments and the pure joy and love that Moxie brought to our family.

We learned immediately that Moxie was not a good traveler. On the road back to Eugene, she threw up in the car. When we relocated her to the crate, she pooped in place. She was a Nervous Nellie whenever we traveled with her somewhere. But eventually, she came to tolerate our trips with much coaxing and reassurance, along with a comfortable berth in the car.

Moxie was not only a beautiful golden retriever, but her personality was pure sweetness and light. On walks, the people we met couldn't help but comment. Many felt a compelling need to pet her, and she always accommodated them. Kids loved her.

When I would leave town on a trip to hither and yon, I would often hear this: "She knows you're gone and she's slightly depressed about it." But when I would return, she would go bonkers with enthusiasm.

We spent much time together at our Owl Conservatory retreat in the North Cascades, enjoying our trail walks and meanderings in Shugart Flats. Unlike Carmen, who would wander off into the brush, causing great consternation, Moxie always stuck close by. Her loyalty and love for her family was off the charts. Interestingly, she had no interest in most other dogs...

...except for her beloved half-brother, whipping boy and chief ally, Boba Fett, an English bulldog adopted by my daughter's family. Buddies from the beginning, Moxie had no problem bossing Boba around. Yet she was a loving big sister to the irascible Boba Fett, whom could bully and intimidate much larger dogs, including a Russian wolfhound.

Despite the fact that she is a Capricorn, Moxie was pure water dog, whether it was cooling off in the kiddie pool we bought exclusively for her use, rolling in puddles over at the Lane County Fairgrounds, wading into the current of the Chiwawa River, or diving into the frigid waters at Lake Wenatchee State Park near the Owl Conservatory. She was all in.

Moxie was always my "wing pup" when I needed her the most. She was there for me: when I slipped in the backyard and fractured two vertebra, she diligently escorted me to the couch where I remained until having spinal fusion surgery; when I was in recovery mode, she never left my side; and when I slipped down the hallway stairs, she was the first to arrive.

She escaped death on several occasions, starting with a near miss by a speeding car when she bolted across the street to greet the mailman. But she also survived major surgery to have her spleen removed. An examination of the organ determined that the abscess was benign and she survived for two more years, even shaking off a stroke late last year.

What she could not escape was a traumatic injury she received at Suds 'Em, our longtime groomer. Our veterinarian confirmed that Moxie had suffered severe bruising around her neck, resulting in blood and fluid filling her lungs, making it harder for her to breathe, and preventing her from getting up on her back legs and walking. Negligence, plain and simple.

Despite the tragedy of her loss, we will remember the good times: chasing the Canadian geese over at the Lane County Fairgrounds, swimming with the other bathers at Lake Wenatchee State Park, walks on the beach near the Siuslaw Jetty in Florence and so much more over her 13 and a half years with our family.

We are heartbroken and we will miss her terribly. Some have asked: Is there another dog in my future? Goes without saying. Life is simply too short without a canine companion.

Meet The PRos

"Just say yes, even if you don't think you're ready." That was the consensus opinion among panelists from a variety of agencies and organizations at the "Meet the PRofessionals" event sponsored by the University of Oregon Chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America on April 23-24.

Panelists included four former students from my classes in the public relations sequence at the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication, including Hannah Smith (Gard Communications), Justin Hanes (Amazon), Jennifer Foss (Intel Corporation) and Aaron Grossman (Portland Trailblazers).

Hosted and coordinated by UO PRSSA Events Director Tessa Campbell and President Jillian Gray, panelists offered lively responses to questions posed by Tessa and Jill, and spoke of their professional journeys as a circuitous route following years of networking and "trial and error."

Attendee Aislyn Morrill commented on LinkedIn: "I said 'yes' to showing up alone, to talking with strangers, to learning something new. As I started talking to other attendees, I found common ground -- people who also care about helping others, working with nonprofits and showing up as their best selves."

"Because of that, I gained valuable insights, grew my network and met people I genuinely connected with," Aislyn continued. "This experience gave me clarity, connections and confidence." Day 2 of the event offered another opportunity for students to connect with professionals in a more informal setting.

A "tour de force" from PRSA Oregon, including (from left) Andrea Watson, APR, Jonathan Yost, APR, Stacy Moe-Kean, APR, and Kelliann Amico, APR, Fellow PRSA, ventured down from Portland for the day to help out, and another former student of mine, Ann (A.wordsmith) Smith, joined us for the session.

Three Waterfalls Lodge

Built as a wilderness retreat on the Washougal River near the Columbia River Gorge by a prominent Portland judge (below, with his visage carved into an old cedar stump) in the 1920s, the Three Waterfalls Lodge is a secluded, picturesque setting for a family retreat over spring break.

The property features several acres and is located in a classic Pacific coast rainforest of large Douglas firs, Western red cedars and the occasional Sitka spruce, with Bracken ferns and sword ferns and moss -- lots of moss -- virtually everywhere. Weather cooperated and provided both days of sun and rain.

Best views were from the front deck overlooking the Washougal River (above) ambling down to the Columbia River Gorge about 10 miles downstream. The cabin, built before the existence of such things as building codes or land use laws, could never exist near such sensitive waterways in this day and age.

Despite its age, the lodge has been upgraded with all the modern amenities, including wi-fi capability, though cell phone service was a bit spotty.

Nonetheless, we had "old school" features, like a turntable with a healthy collection of vinyl record albums, and a television with a plentiful supply of VHS tapes, along with board games and playing cards.

Rising To The Occasion

In its first year in the Big Ten Conference, the University of Oregon's men's basketball team has earned a return trip to March Madness after weathering a competitive schedule in one of the nation's premiere leagues, finishing 24-9 and beating powerhouses like Wisconsin, Penn State and Ohio State.

Yet it was a mere two years ago that the Ducks landed a less desirable berth in the National Invitational Tournament, leading to criticism by The Oregonian suggesting it was time for the team's longtime coach and sure-bet Hall of Fame Coach Dana Altman to ride off into the sunset.

Not so fast, my friend. I took umbrage at such a short-sighted -- nay blinkered -- suggestion. I was compelled to write UO Athletic Director Rob Mullens and show my support for Coach Altman, who has an overall head coaching record of 710-367, with 15 consecutive 20-win seasons at Oregon.

"Hi, Rob. As a 38-year season ticket holder to Duck basketball, I was disheartened to read in The Oregonian that Dana Altman, whom I consider a great coach, was so frustrated after the NIT game against Wisconsin that he consequently took too much responsibility for the lack of fans in the stands."

"While I appreciate the fact that Dana is a stand-up guy, the real reasons behind the lack of fans at the game go way beyond the performance of the team or the coaches. The real for the lack of attendance, aside from the fact that it was spring break, is lack of parking, ticket prices and late games."

"Dana is not the problem. He is a Hall of Fame coach-in-waiting whom I hope will remain at Oregon for many years to come. UO should develop new approaches to address the real reasons for lack of attendance: provide more parking options and get more creative with ticket prices and scheduling of game times."

Incredibly, I heard back from Rob Mullens almost immediately: "Thanks for your thoughtful note. And many thanks for your generosity as a long-time season ticket holder to Oregon men’s basketball. We are in total agreement that Dana Altman is a Hall of Fame coach and is the best person to lead the Ducks."

"You provided a lot to unpack in your other three key areas.  Given your 38 years of experience, I would like to touch base with you via phone to learn more and share information which may be helpful. Please let me know your availability and best number to reach you. Thanks again for your loyalty. Rob."

Now that's what I call customer service. After a 15-minute conversation with Rob Mullens, I was reassured that Altman was in good stead with the athletic department. The very next season, the UO men made the round of 32 in the NCAA tournament. This season, the Ducks made the Big Dance again.

Along with Oregon natives Nate Bittle and Jackson Shelstad, Altman reloaded with key transfers from other former Pac-10 schools, such as T.J. Bamba from WSU and Branden Angel from Stanford. On Friday, March 21, the Webfoots will face off against the Liberty Flames in Seattle. Go Ducks!