Dear Friend and Reader:
After a year of twists and turns, reporting on the news, astrology and special interests and editing Planet Waves’ editions each day, I’m stepping down as Associate Editor, effective today.
As I’ve written here before, my partner of three years is Irish and I’m American. We’ve been trying, without success, to be in the same place at the same time.
Though the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA) could alter our immigration situation, we simply can’t wait any longer for laws to change and are heading off on an adventure instead.
At the end of March, I’m going back to Dublin to apply for permanent residency as her de facto partner. This is not officially legal in Ireland, but because a civil partnership bill will be enacted soon, the country has been allowing same-sex couples to file for permanent residency visas.
Regardless of how this initial application works out, we’ll be moving over the summer to another European city, where we’ll have more rights as a same-sex couple, and hopefully more employment opportunities in a different economy. Currently, we’re deciding between Paris, Amsterdam and Berlin.
The whole process involves a lot of upheaval and paperwork, so I’m leaving you in the capable and talented hands of Eric Francis, Anatoly Ryzhenko and the new Associate Editor, Moira Clune.
It’s been an absolute honor to work for Planet Waves, the writing team and to get to know you, the readers. I hope, when things settle, that I’ll be able to come back and fill you in on what’s happening — both in my own life, and in the world around us.В
In the meantime, I’ve started a website that focuses on my immigration experiences, along with a couple of side projects. I’ll try to update it as regularly as possible, so if you’d ever like to check in, click here. I’m also available via email at: asherr (at) tcd.ie. Please stay in touch, I’d love to hear from you.
Onwards and upwards,
Rachel Asher
To see more from contributing photographer Sean Hayes, click here.
Oh, Rachel! Thank you, darlin, for all the “word-art “you brought our way on PW—–Bless your heart—and good-luck.!!!
Rachel,
Good luck and best wishes, and May your notorius sense of irony bless your future as much as it has ours!
Rachel, I’ve very much enjoyed reading your posts here. I admire what you have done here and what you are doing now. Best of luck to you.
It’s been a real pleasure to read your columns Rachel. I wish you a Bon Voyage on the adventure ahead of you. Such a good example you are to all your friends and the rest of us who read you. Take the leap, whatever fears there are; follow what calls you and you will be blessed with an abundance of vitality. A life of greater freedom– of expression and of soul– I can’t even imagine moving towards that.
On a different note: I live in Denver; the paper I’ve read with breakfast almost every day for 30 years went out of business last weekend. As there were two papers here, they are now sending me the other gratis. It is a shock to see how insubstantial it is.
That is to say that Substance, such as your work and that of PW, should never be taken for granted. The impossible is all too possible these difficult days.
Blessings to you all,
Pan
Best wishes to both of you…enjoy!
All the best to you and your partner, Rachel! Keep zinging us from your side of the Atlantic, and keep us on our toes over here.
B
Rachel – Thank You. Good luck and Good love, Hazel x.
Rachel:
Be well and fly right! May the doors open before you with ease.
Fe
Rachel, all the best for love, success and freedom in abundant measure! Excelsior! Jude
Good luck on your move, Rachel…
I took a swing through your website, very cool. We’ll miss you.
M