Debut author Clare Simons thought that Death &amp; Dying was her Jeopardy category. Standing on the front line of a historic legal battle as the press liaison for the terminally ill patients who successfully defended the Oregon Death With Dignity Act against federal attack at the U.S. Supreme Court gave Simons a unique perspective. Devoted to the teachings of Hinduism and the guru Mata Amritanandamayi Amma, the Hugging Saint, Simons saw the burning of bodies on the Ganges, which is why one of the chapters in To Be Here Is Immense is entitled “Wake Up &amp; Die.”&nbsp;“It was an honor to be the gatekeeper to the stories of the dying patients, whose final words allayed the fears of our mortality-phobic culture,” said Simons. “These brave souls understood what it means to be fully present until the very last breath.”Simon’s late husband, Scott Rice, a small business owner in Beaverton, was a declarant in the case Oregon v. Ashcroft and a spokesperson for the state’s landmark aid-in-dying law. His testimony in The Survivors Brief and firsthand account of his late wife’s choice to access the law influenced a positive outcome in the five-year litigation.&nbsp; 




Endorsed by Compassion &amp; Choices, a national non-profit working to improve patient autonomy and individual choice at the end of life.&nbsp;“Clare Simons is a former Compassion &amp; Choices staff member, journalist, and advocate whose work has focused on end-of-life choice, including communications during the defense of Oregon’s Death with Dignity Act before the U.S. Supreme Court. This is her debut book. 
"Clare’s search was propelled by some of the most transformative political messages of our time. Her behind-the-scenes narrative is more compelling than anything in front of the camera could ever be.” —Barbara Coombs Lee, President Emerita &amp; Senior Advisor, Compassion &amp; Choices; author of Finish Strong: Putting Your Priorities First at the End of Life.
Kirkus Review, the publishing industry standard, calls To Be Here Is Immense: “A wryly self-aware story of truth-seeking that becomes darkly gripping in its final pages. Simons' narrative voice is utterly charming…and regardless of one's politics or philosophy, comes to feel, by the end, like a conversational, well-informed friend.”&nbsp;&nbsp;
Spirituality &amp; Practice, “Highly Recommends” the book as “Culturally smart, often hilarious, and full of heart. Somehow Simons is able to weave stories of serious public policy, life and death, but also sex. ” 
To Be Here Is Immense, part passionate love story, spiritual adventure, and razor-sharp memoir, follows one woman's relentless search for meaning and late-in-life marriage to a great man. Together, they move through worlds of activism in Portland to pilgrimages across India’s sacred geography, until his sudden and mysterious death. How to live another day becomes Simon’s reason for being. Asking herself, how did I get here?&nbsp;begins the unraveling of a lifelong spiritual practice.&nbsp;

BOOKSTORE EVENTS
9/8 Annie Blooms Books, 7834 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland, OR 97219, 7:00-8:00 pm&nbsp;
9/13 New Renaissance, 1338 NW 23rd Ave, Portland, OR 97210, 3:30-4:30 pm&nbsp;
9/19 Bold Books &amp; Coffee, 1755 SW Jefferson St, Portland, OR 97205, 7:00-8:00 PM&nbsp;

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Local Event: New Book: Bridges Social Justice & Pursuit of a Lucid Death - To Be Here Is Immense

Multnomah County

Portland

Oregon

New Book: Bridges Social Justice & Pursuit of a...

Debut author Clare Simons thought that Death & Dying was her Jeopardy category. Standing on the front line of a historic legal...

New Book: Bridges Social Justice & Pursuit of a Lucid Death - To Be Here Is Immense

Annie Bloom's Books

New Book: Bridges Social Justice, Sacred Transition &amp; Pursuit of a Lucid Death - To Be Here Is Immense, a sensual memoir about the devastating cost of devotion.

Debut author Clare Simons thought that Death &amp; Dying was her Jeopardy category. Standing on the front line of a historic legal battle as the press liaison for the terminally ill patients who successfully defended the Oregon Death With Dignity Act against federal attack at the U.S. Supreme Court gave Simons a unique perspective.

Local Event: Author Reading, To Be Here Is Immense, by Clare Simons 

Author Reading, To Be Here Is Immense, by Clare...

New Book: Bridges Social Justice, Sacred Transition & Pursuit of a Lucid Death - To Be Here Is Immense, a sensual memoir about...

Author Reading, To Be Here Is Immense, by Clare Simons 

clare simons

King County

Seattle Metropolitan Area

Bellevue

Washington

Mercer Island

Sammamish-Issaquah

Redmond

Kirkland

Renton

Seattle

Woodinville

Shoreline-Lake Forest Park

Snohomish County

Edmonds

Pierce County

Bonney Lake-Sumner

3R Technology, a CTL Company

Join CTL, formerly 3R Technology, for our upcoming Community Electronics Recycling Event! Give your end-of-life electronics a second life through certified, environmentally responsible disposal that keeps hazardous materials out of local landfills and protects our planet. Community members are invited to drop off everyday tech including laptops, PCs, and other electronics for free, while select specialty items are accepted for a small fee. Please visit the link for the full list of what we're accepting,&nbsp;complete event details, and location.

Local Event: Electronics Recycling Event

Kent

Electronics Recycling Event

Join CTL, formerly 3R Technology, for our upcoming Community Electronics Recycling Event! Give your end-of-life electronics a...

Forum Social House

Comedy La Force Presents: Leah Rudick at Forum Social House! Dinner and drinks start at 5:00pm, show from 6:00pm to 7:30pm, PG-13+
Leah Rudick is a Los Angeles based comedian known for her viral original characters including Wealthy Woman, Joannie, and Love Coach. Rudick has built a devoted fanbase of nearly 2 million followers across socials with her signature ‘weird girl’ comedy. Deadline named Leah as a <a href="https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdeadline.com%2Flists%2Fcomics-to-watch-2026-deadline-mary-beth-barone-aaron-weber%2F&amp;data=05%7C02%7C%7C9fde245723f34a1b1cee08decd8bfa62%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C639174198275609000%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=X6xTKm5JIKk3Z3eLAwPQQ4m0QoTDmDdV4%2BGwIt8frCo%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Top 20 Comic to Watch in 2026</a>.
Rudick’s debut comedy hour, <a href="https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Furldefense.com%2Fv3%2F__https%3A%2Ftv.apple.com%2Fus%2Fmovie%2Fleah-rudick-spiraling%2Fumc.cmc.2du012tpqvxvfos8fx8o31jjq__%3B!!CxwJSw!N7e6aFhD61N53JGD1uK-OceHDVjUpqzY4UcYiTlgeWwPf-3mtMb10lMKPJYgHCiIB2asl5ifDCmdPA%24&amp;data=05%7C02%7C%7C9fde245723f34a1b1cee08decd8bfa62%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C639174198275632215%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=RSiQs%2F4EtrP1HVZ3yOHwZACh8%2B6ZQG4Jhvc63P53rKM%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Spiraling</a>, released on Amazon and Apple TV in 2023.
TV credits include High Maintenance (HBO), Commuters (IFC), and Crowd Control (Dropout TV). She co-wrote and co-starred in the critically acclaimed web series Made to Order, featured in Marie Claire, IndieWire, and the New York Observer.
On the big screen, she co-wrote and co-starred in the indie feature Sweet Parents which took home top prizes at Brooklyn International Film Festival, Montreal World Film Festival and The Lower East Side Film Festival.
Rudick began her comedy career in New York with her sketch duo Skinny Bitch Jesus Meeting, earning praise in Time Out NY, Washington Post, and Complex Magazine, which named her one of “25 Funny People Who Should Have Their Own TV Show.”
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<a href="https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Furldefense.com%2Fv3%2F__https%3A%2Flinkprotect.cudasvc.com%2Furl%3Fa%3Dhttps*3a*2f*2fwww.leahrudick.com*2f%26c%3DE%2C1%2Cs84ptg2HabFCrDnjkG73TWBGOEAVfm32NGFxjR5OhBz0rhEjZlUaySQkuLVR2jOPLAhhrGS9hipbKaKh59pn-xJ0i77xQ5weKj5pE0OWABA%2C%26typo%3D1__%3BJSUlJQ!!CxwJSw!N7e6aFhD61N53JGD1uK-OceHDVjUpqzY4UcYiTlgeWwPf-3mtMb10lMKPJYgHCiIB2asl5hf0oefvQ%24&amp;data=05%7C02%7C%7C9fde245723f34a1b1cee08decd8bfa62%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C639174198275765561%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=Zzk8mjbQ6IR33Rqyqz1makyBzALpdQN81PIe59nc5ko%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">WEBSITE</a>
Links:
<a href="https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Furldefense.com%2Fv3%2F__https%3A%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DG_tfo-edHfE__%3B!!CxwJSw!N7e6aFhD61N53JGD1uK-OceHDVjUpqzY4UcYiTlgeWwPf-3mtMb10lMKPJYgHCiIB2asl5jVEII08w%24&amp;data=05%7C02%7C%7C9fde245723f34a1b1cee08decd8bfa62%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C639174198275824552%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=R1Kij4V0We9apXnp81BDDs5I65H1MBBrWIISmSO3VTE%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Don’t Tell Set</a>
All ages, but PG-13 content

Local Event: Leah Rudick at Forum Social House in Bellevue 

Leah Rudick at Forum Social House in Bellevue 

Comedy La Force Presents: Leah Rudick at Forum Social House! Dinner and drinks start at 5:00pm, show from 6:00pm to 7:30pm,...

The 2026 Snowflake Lane Audition Form is NOW LIVE! The form can be found at <a href="http://bit.ly/SFL-26" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">bit.ly/SFL-26</a>.&nbsp;

It may feel early to be thinking about the winter holidays, but we are already recruiting performers for Snowflake Lane 2026! Every year, Snowflake Lane hires &ldquo;Jingle Belle&rdquo; dancers and a "Snow Belle" dance team to perform high-energy choreography, a group of &ldquo;Snow Flurries&rdquo; color guard performers who spin six-foot silk flags, a Drumline (think high-energy marching band), Masked Characters (Penguin, Mouse, etc.), Unmasked Characters (Princesses, Sugar Plum Fairies, etc.), Stilt Walkers (equipment and training provided), and Float Patrol (our lovely float drivers).&nbsp;

We are looking to hire upwards of 300 cast and crew members at a minimum of $40/show. Performances are outdoors at the Bellevue Collection every evening between Black Friday (11/27/2026) and Christmas Eve (12/24/2026). Call time is 5:30 PM, and the show runs from 7-7:30 PM. Limited evening and weekend (paid) rehearsals will occur in mid-November. The minimum age to audition is 14 years old. Costumes and props are provided, so there is no out-of-pocket production cost for the performer. Performers of all skill levels are encouraged to apply and will be trained by our staff.

<ul><li>DANCER AUDITIONS are Saturday, September 12th at 11am (10am check-in)&nbsp;</li><li>COLOR GUARD AUDITIONS are Saturday, September 19th at 11am (10am check-in)&nbsp;</li><li>CHARACTER, STILT WALKER, FLOAT PATROL, AND TECH AUDITIONS are Saturday, September 26th (appointments throughout the day)&nbsp;</li><li>DRUMLINE AUDITIONS are Sunday, September 27th at 11am (10am check-in)&nbsp;</li></ul>

Snowflake Lane Auditions

The 2026 Snowflake Lane Audition Form is NOW LIVE! The form can be found at bit.ly/SFL-26. ...

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Posting Activity

New Book: Bridges Social Justice & Pursuit of a Lucid Death - To Be Here Is Immense

SEP

3

8:00 AM

Portland, OR

Author Reading, To Be Here Is Immense, by Clare Simons

SEP

8

7:00 PM

Annie Bloom's Books, 7834 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland, OR

Electronics Recycling Event

Leah Rudick at Forum Social House in Bellevue

Snowflake Lane Auditions