What was one of the turning points in your life — A time that forced you to pause and think about your personal values, and more importantly, how you will live out those values?
That is one of the questions asked of our Hometown Hero couple, Susan Prescott and Michael Seraphinoff.
Seraphinoff was able to answer immediately, going back 37 years to a stormy Friday night when he was 19 years old.
“With three of my friends in my car, I was driving way, way too fast on an interstate,” he said. “I lost control of the car. the next thing I knew, I was lying on the pavement. When I regained consciousness, all I could think of was, How were my friends?”
Seraphinoff learned that two of his friends had fractured back and neck vertebrae. One had been released from the hospital. Both friends would have a complete recovery.
“I remember thinking how fortunate I was. I had a second chance to live out the rest of my life more responsibly. I owed a debt. I felt so guilty, and for good reason. I had risked other people’s very lives. I was a real scoundrel, a criminal in my mind.”
Seraphinoff said he made a conscious decision to keep asking himself if he is living out what he says he believes, and to remind himself that every action he takes will affect another person.
He believes some of our best qualities can indeed come out of some of our worst choices.
The very next decision facing him was the Vietnam War.
“I had always respected and admired my father and relatives who had fought for their country in World Wars I and II,” he said. “I wanted to do the right thing in my mind, and for this particular war it was to be a draft resister.”
When his father learned about his son’s decision, Michael said, the elder Seraphinoff thought the two of them ought to discuss it.
“Like shout at each other at the top of our lungs,” Seraphinoff said.
He explained that he was not a pacifist; he was a conscientious objector. He says he thinks that in many ways the draft is a good thing.
“Some go to war to serve our country; some go to jail to serve our country,” he said. “Fortunately, I didn’t have to go to jail but got to do community service.”
Seraphinoff felt he should serve his country as a volunteer against injustice.
“It wouldn’t be right for me to stay home and advance my career, or try to profit from the war in any way,” he said.
He fought in his homeland for affordable housing, and for enough healthy food for all, and he continues to do so.
It was while working for one of these causes in 1976 that he met his wife, Prescott, who at the time worked for the Seattle Tenants Union.
“I fell in love with her while she was testifying as an expert witness, explaining why the city needed more shelter for the homeless,” Seraphinoff said.
Visiting the two is an experience for almost any American used to suburban amenities. You’ll need to park your car more than three-fourths of a mile from where they live. Their home is a small modest cabin — a yurt, actually — which they built themselves. They will meet you at the gravel road and guide you through their hand-cut densely forested trail. They live off the power grid, so any creature comforts most people are used to are not taken for granted here.
Seraphinoff said that when some friends came to visit from Macedonia, they were not impressed.
“I remember them saying, ‘Why, you’re not even trying to live the American dream. You could live like this in any third world country.’ Sometimes, in some of my uncertain lower moments, I do wonder if this place we call our home is just some poor man’s shack, Seraphinoff said. “I mean, should I envy the Microsoft millionaire, or should the Microsoft millionaire envy me?”
He politely excused himself to go outside for wood for the stove.
In the interval, Prescott said quietly, “Honestly, this really isn’t a good time for me to be a Hometown Hero. I am struggling with doubts about my self-worth.”
A graphic designer by trade, Prescott is between work. She is trying to update her resume, but says it’s tough trying to sell yourself when you’re feeling low on the self-esteem scale.
“Just the act of being out of work can make you question whether you’re worthy of getting work,” she said.
But she changed the subject quickly.
“You want to know one of the turning points in my life? It’s when my first true love and I broke up,” Prescott said. “You see, Michael is my second true love. Anyway, I had settled into a five-year relationship with someone I fully expected to grow old with. Then I found out that another person had entered the picture. Well, I was devastated. I felt betrayed, abandoned, a failure and distrustful. All the rules in my life changed, and I kind of acted crazy. I remember feeling physically paralyzed, emotionally numb.”
Her malaise continued for two years, and she wondered if she would ever get over the grieving and loss.
“Then something shifted in my thinking, and I began to see daylight, and I knew I was going to be OK,” she said.
She says one of the great tragedies of youthful suicides is that these young people have not yet had enough life experiences to know they can eventually move through their darkness. If we are willing to withstand the pains in life, she said, it can be amazing the strength we gain from them.
Cleveland Hall, a friend and volunteer, attests to the fact that the couple continues to be deeply committed to fighting for social justice and working to defend the environment.
“They believe in living lightly on the earth,” Hall said. “More than anyone I’ve ever known they ‘walk the talk.’ Whether it’s working on a project to disarm land mines, defending tenants rights, aiding refugees in pursuit of asylum, or dedicating endless hours to the mission of education about organic, sustainable and locally appropriate agriculture, these two give their all, in the face of personal sacrifice.”
Together they decided not to produce their own children, knowing there were already plenty of other people’s children who would appreciate the attention.
Chris Douthitt, a former co-worker, writes that the two “embody the spirit of all those ‘far out’ dreams we once had as children of the ’60s — things such as a clean environment, civil rights, humanity, a healthy skepticism of government and industry, a rejection of materialism and a constant quest for peace.”
Somewhere along the line to the self-centered 21st century, Douthitt said, many of us left those dreams behind.
“Not Michael and Prescott. You can still find Michael donning an endangered fish costume to make a statement at a county commissioners’ meeting. They each ride public transportation to help cut down on fossil fuel consumption. Michael still writes passionate letters about human-rights violations half a world away. Prescott has attended loud protest marches while at the same time designing promotional posters for community festivals and organic produce.
“They tread lightly on the land and often live on the financial edge themselves by living their beliefs, and giving to others,” Douthitt continued. “They are modest, loyal, kind and honest to a fault. Their life is a reminder to us all to step back and view our own life, and honestly ask ourselves, does our life match our values?”
Michael
What is your favorite kind of read?
“Definitely fiction. The world is unfair; we need fiction so the good guys win, and it can be more satisfying than the real world. However, fiction needs some plausible evil to thicken the plot.”
Do you have a favorite saying?
“Do we have no enemies because we’ve killed them all, or do we have no enemies because we have made friends of them all?”
Who inspired you?
“My father. He is my hero. He fought for his country. He is a self-taught carpenter, builder and mechanic of nearly a dozen two-passenger experimental sports aircraft. He has done all this despite his lack of higher education. Because our family was ‘blue collar,’ living in a town with factories on all sides, he liked to refer to us as the ‘cream of the crap.'”
What one question would you like to ask God?
“Is this the best of all possible worlds?”
What do you wish people would understand about you?
“When you see a somewhat grubby-looking older guy standing by the side of the road waiting for the bus, please don’t think ‘loser in the game of life.’ He may be someone who prefers bus travel to and from his gardening at the Tilth or Greenbank farm properties, which tends to get one somewhat grubby, or earthy-looking.”
Do you have an adage to live by?
“Whatever you do, don’t abandon your dreams to avoid the disappointments.” (a quote from our poet friend Victory Schouten).
Prescott
What is a kind thing someone has done for you?
“When I was working on a cause, the other camp began to tell people what I stood for, and not in a flattering light. A member of the ‘opposite camp’ took the time to come to me and ask me personally and directly to say in my own words what I really stood for.”
What kinds of things will people never find out about you?
“Not much. I have a very expressive husband.”
Do you have a mission statement?
“Be useful for the common good.”
What others say about them
“These two are a team and a treasure. For me they have modeled patience, persistence, unselfishness, kindness, and intelligence.”
— Jack Bock, fellow volunteer
“Michael and Prescott are kind, compassionate people who care about both their local and world community. If they see a way they can be of help, they get right to work. Their tireless efforts are behind many successful community projects, including the Tilth Farmer’s Market and the Greenbank Farm. They work quietly and cheerfully, without the need for fanfare or public acclaim. They are warm-hearted, thoughtful and fun-loving, and we are so happy to be among their many friends.”
— Rob and Victory Lee Schouten , longtime friends
“A lot of people probably don’t know that it is possible to live quite well off the grid, frugally and simply. The ‘establishment’ wants us all to be consumers. Michael and Prescott value what they can give over what they can acquire. Together they have helped raise a young person since he was just 2 years old. They care about people, animals, the land that we all share, and they work to help those of us who are unable to help ourselves. Visiting them at their handmade yurt is like visiting ‘The Peaceable Kingdom.’ “
— Linda and Leonard Good, local volunteers
and music and science teachers
“Sometime in the mid-80s, at a meeting in Greenbank, Michael and Prescott introduced us to the Washington Tilth Association. From that meeting, the South Whidbey Chapter of Tilth was born. Its mission was, and continues to be, ‘service to farmers, gardeners, and consumers interested in environmentally sound, sustainable and socially equitable agriculture.’ Since that time, Michael and Prescott have devoted untold numbers of their waking hours in education and example to interested island residents. Over the years they have both filled many roles within the Tilth organization. However, their influence and interests have not been confined to their immediate community, both having traveled to Eastern Europe. Michael, whose family’s origins are Northern Macedonian, has extended his help to family and friends during and after the Albanian incursions.”
— Iris and Peter Linton, neighbors
“We are always inspired by Michael and Prescott’s commitment to living a simpler life and their contributions to building a better society. They live more lightly than most Americans can conceive of. The first time I met Prescott, she was sewing handmade felt into old canvas mailbags to insulate their yurt. A trip to their ‘little Macedonia’ followed, complete with head butts from the ornery goat and the reasonably quiet companionship of Dan the donkey. Both Michael and Prescott will intelligently, politely and doggedly challenge an entrenched point of view. Their relationship with one another is also an inspiration. Their styles are so different, they each have their own distinct opinions, yet are always respectful of each other. Knowing them would give anyone hope for humankind.”
— A.T. Birmingham-Young and Tom Marek,
South Whidbey Tilth volunteers
“When these two profess something, you know it’s action, not just words. They use public transportation whenever possible. They model action and remain true to their beliefs. There is a real balance between them. Michael is the more visible one, writing letters, speaking out, often making some enemies for doing so. Prescott works behind the scenes. They both volunteer for the common good of our community and the greater community. We admire their ability to live both simply and richly. They personify the best of unique individuals living an unselfish life.”
— Vern and Martha Olsen, neighbors
“I first met them 22 years ago when I navigated the foot trail to their home. They had hired me to look at some gadget of theirs, I don’t remember exactly what. Instead, what I remember is the warm greeting I received from them, and the wonderful candlelit dinner they served me. They are the kind of people who are likely to get involved in any community activity that’s wholesome, nourishing, down-to-earth and full of heart.”
— Bruce Dobson, community volunteer
“These two humans are as honest as they come, their life’s actions synonymous with their words. Both are centered with an attitude of total sharing all phases of ‘who one is’ to anyone who wants to know. They just happen to choose a life of simplicity, a grassroots psychology, a conscious lifestyle with every step taken to leave the lightest of footprints on our world so others can do the same.”
— Lafe Lawyer, community volunteer
