I have received the best third year anniversary gift ever from the people around the country embracing the Black Lives Matter movement: Hope. This surprise gift welled up inside of me recently, completely unexpected, as I reflected on finishing my third year as owner of the Weekly News. What are the important nuggets that I have mined since July 2017 when I started here? What have I experienced and learned?

Turns out that the lesson is lifelong, not from La Conner at all. That happens sometimes.

My version of the last 50-plus years of life in these United States is that it has been a bumpy rid...