JulieLeung.com: a life told in tidepools

Via Scott at Metafilter, I enjoyed reading this story about a father and daughter camping in the forest for four years near Portland, OR:

A man and his 12-year-old daughter spent the last four years living in a remote hillside in Portland’s Forest Park, police said.
The pair was discovered in a dense, wooded area by an Australian cross-country runner and his wife.

[…]

The man and girl told police they had lived in the park for four years. The pair appeared clean, well-fed and healthy, Barkley said, and the girl was well-spoken beyond her years.

The man, who identified himself as Frank, told police he was a 53-year-old Marine Corps veteran and college graduate who served in Vietnam.

He came to Oregon with his daughter, Ruth, from Tacoma with no job and virtually no money. Frank told police that the girl’s mother was institutionalized in New Hampshire, and the two now lived on a $400-a-month disability check.

Rather than live on the streets and expose Ruth to alcohol and drugs, Frank said, they hiked deep into Forest Park and built a lean-to.

Even more amazing

A pediatrician found the girl free of any illness, any signs of physical or sexual abuse – and no cavities. A criminal background check came up empty, according to police reports.

Even though the child and father lived for such a long time disconnected from society, the girl had been home schooled and was in good physical shape.

In fact, the girl received a very good education from her father while living among the trees. Officials said the girl, who would be normally in 7th grade, is at a 12th grade equivalency.

I liked how close the father and daughter seemed to be, how happy and healthy. “What was so clear was that their living conditions were unacceptable, but their relationship was a real deep love and caring for each other.”
A homeschooling story, with some number of twists, but still it appears to be a great story of family, of a father who tried to make the best choice he could, and of a daughter who benefitted greatly from his wisdom.

Earlier this week I wrote a partial list of reasons why children come into the world. Today Enoch posted another one, a new one. Issues of biology, possible infertility and privacy aside, I find it a bit disturbing: would you want to tell your child that the reason you got pregnant was so you could win $100,000 on a reality TV show?

Fast they fly away from me. Carrying baby sister, I can’t keep up. My older two are on their own now. Pedaling down hill, pealing with glee. My biker girls. Happy and free.

I am breathless watching them, exhilarated and afraid, for them and for me.
I know that if they fall, they will have to pick up the pieces themselves.

From the front page of today’s Seattle Times More modest clothing, please, girl asks Nordstrom:

Ella Gunderson became frustrated trying to find something fashionable — yet modest — in a world where she seems to be surrounded by low-riding jeans and tight, revealing tops. So she penned a letter.

“Dear Nordstrom,” she wrote. “I am an eleven-year-old girl who has tried shopping at your store for clothes (in particular jeans), but all of them ride way under my hips, and the next size up is too big and falls down.

“I see all of these girls who walk around with pants that show their belly button and underwear,” she wrote. “Your clearks sugjest that there is only one look. If that is true, then girls are suppost to walk around half naked. I think that you should change that.” (sic)

Perhaps I’m making more of this story than I should. But I liked it a lot.

As a matter of principle and practice, I believe in modesty and that “less is more” when it comes to exposing certain body parts. As a matter of practicality: I’m in my thirties and have had three babies. So I have a number of reasons why I do not parade myself about in navel-revealing attire. But as a mom of three daughters, I am concerned about what my girls will be wearing. None of them (at least for many years) will be allowed to leave the house wearing the aforementioned fashions of exposed underwear and belly button (yes, another reason why we homeschool: we can’t find appropriate clothing for our children 😉 ) I’m grateful for Ella Gunderson providing her blunt appraisal questioning whether girls are suppost to walk around half naked.

My own beliefs about modesty aside, I find this story illustrates other principles as well. Here is a picture of Little Girl takes on Big Corporation. Well, I wouldn’t say that eleven years old is “little” and Nordstrom’s is a hometown shoestore so it doesn’t seem such a faceless monolith. Yet it still has the flavor of Girl takes on Giant. And Girl wins. Slingshot 1, Store 0.

It’s a story about a girl who was willing to stand up for her principles and go against conformity and corporation. I like that part.

And it’s also a story about what customers can do. If the company doesn’t have the product you desire, you can let them know you are unhappy and you can also organize your own options. It’s a story about communication. Freedom to speak and to choose. A story about action and alternatives.

Ella Gunderson is one voice. One voice from a child. One voice that spoke up and got others to notice. She was brave. Rather than wear clothing that made her uncomfortable, she was willing to be uncomfortable for her beliefs.

This girl puts me to shame! How many times have I been told in the fitting rooms by the clerk that what I was wearing was The Look? Even if The Look didn’t look good on me, or even if it made me feel slightly uncomfortable, how many times have I either bought the clothing, despite my complaints and concerns, or wore my old clothes for one more season? How many times have I taken the time to speak up and ask for what I want?

Last time I went shopping, The Beast formerly known as Fashion was declaring all the rules – or rather The Rule for The Look. But this girl said no. And Nordstrom’s listened.

“Your letter really got my attention … I think you are absolutely right. There should not be just one look for everyone. This look is not particularly a modest one and there should be choices for everyone.”

It’s a story of individuality. Individual power. A story of choice. A choice story.