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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Medford seeks input on plan RCC hosts discussion on returning veterans Darkwing Manor opens Thursday Embark on a spooky trolley tour through Jacksonville Will TV makeover do the trick for Mystic Treats? Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency services Fire marshal visit prompts cancellation of Sacred Heart haunted house Two injured in Hayes Hill crash OSP finds 68 pounds of marijuana in car during traffic stop Emergency services Politics and Elections Ads attack Dotterrer and Bates Local gas prices lowest in years Oregonians not in party mood Sign wars rage again in Phoenix Democratic contender not conceding victory to Walden Education Medford Schools Foundation supports programs the district can't Fire marshal visit prompts cancellation of Sacred Heart haunted house Kids Unlimited Academy awarded $450,000 grant County helps fund RCC job training SOU student says free speech issue overblown Environment Local gas prices lowest in years Where do all those leaves go? Ashland council calls for divestment from fossil fuel Reintroduction of McCloud River salmon inspires film, tribe Rite Aid bear cub may be released into the wild in spring State news Nation - World Obituaries Bess Hamers Mary Frost Newcomb Jassen M. Hatley Steven M. Rayburn Charles Stanley Rider Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Sports Latest Stories Seventh Heaven Thousands attend Taveras' Dominican burial Parker helps Spurs edge Mavs 101-100 in opener With chance at title, Giants unravel quickly Ashland's Guthrie to start Game 7 tonight Varsity 541 College Sports Stanford trying to upend No. 5 Oregon a new way Ducks try to loosen up a bit for Stanford Mississippi State, Florida State top playoff list Georgia still waiting for ruling on Gurley Pac-12 passes reforms for athletes Pro Sports Seventh Heaven Thousands attend Taveras' Dominican burial Parker helps Spurs edge Mavs 101-100 in opener With chance at title, Giants unravel quickly Ashland's Guthrie to start Game 7 tonight Community Sports Results / Standings LOCAL EVENTS LOCAL RESULTS Business Latest Stories Will TV makeover do the trick for Mystic Treats? Local gas prices lowest in years Revenue rises for Harry & David's parent company Where do all those leaves go? Business Briefs Real Estate News New I-5 interchange puts south Medford on fast lane to fast food Lithia buys Clovis dealership Rental vacancies increase Jackson County real estate sales, prices continue rebound Pallet Wine Co. expands in downtown Medford People In Business People in Business Transportation Frontier Airlines to end Eugene-Denver service Business Resource Fair has answers Erickson's Navy contract extended Lithia buys Clovis dealership Agriculture Revenue rises for Harry & David's parent company Where do all those leaves go? Hundreds look for work at Harry & David hiring fair Umpqua Holdings more than doubles net earnings Harry & David will hold hiring fair Thursday Opinion Latest Granlund cartoon: Netanyahu insulted Our View: Any new gas tax must be equitable Letters to the Editor, Oct. 29 Measure 89 provides equality for women Granlund cartoon: Haunted White House 2014 Editorials Our View: Any new gas tax must be equitable Southeast center offers new approach to growth Our View: Cost is a poor excuse for local pot tax Don't bet on pot windfall for schools Our View: SOU's 'free speech zone' constitutionally questionable Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Oct. 29 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 28 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 27 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 26 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 26 Guest Opinions Measure 89 provides equality for women Eagle Point needs public transportation Guest Opinion: Common Core testing sets math students up for failure Guest Opinion: Campaigning and voting 'the Oregon way' Guest Opinion: A glimpse into the reality of our elections Lifestyle Latest stories Spices of Autumn 17 things you never knew about turkeys Travel: Quiet time on Cape Cod Community blog: Seven spooky snacks are savory Halloween fare 5 Things to Do This Weekend (Oct. 31-Nov. 2) Food Spices of Autumn Community blog: Seven spooky snacks are savory Halloween fare Can’t get enough pumpkin-pie spice? Living and cooking in pear-a-dise Kitchen Call: A cookbook by its cover Home and Garden 17 things you never knew about turkeys Dear Monty: 10 tips toward a quality offer on a home How to live and work in a tiny home Dear Monty: Rent-back clause prevents financial disaster​ Recycle plastic at The Expo Friday and Saturday Health Community blog: Finding My Roots Dr. Jeff Hersh: Controversy over breast cancer screening Dr. Murray Feingold: Choose a diet best for you Community blog: The Crowd And The Win - Better Health Joan Endyke: The importance of a healthy diet when pregnant Hiking Biking Faith Religion Briefs Religion Briefs Religion Briefs Religion Briefs Milestones and Achievements Guide promotes better food system Where do all those leaves go? Engagement Wedding: Potter-Hazel Wedding: Martin-Berg Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Singer and songwriter Gene Burnett follows his bliss Spookadelic Halloween Funktacular promises a lively dance party Patty Griffin plays the Historic Ashland Armory Puss 'N' Boots Costume Ball and Auction Southern Oregon Repertory Singers present harmonious voices, dissonant notes Theater Review: Funny 'Lion in Winter' roars to life at Camelot Theatre Camelot presents 'The Lion in Winter' 'Carnage' is short, smart, darkly funny Music Singer and songwriter Gene Burnett follows his bliss Patty Griffin plays the Historic Ashland Armory Live Music in Local Clubs Southern Oregon Repertory Singers present harmonious voices, dissonant notes Beekeepers Ball is one sweet soiree Community Events Spookadelic Halloween Funktacular promises a lively dance party Puss 'N' Boots Costume Ball and Auction Theater's haunted house not for faint of heart Third Fridays in downtown Medford Works in progress Dining Back Porch Bar & Grill Yu's Yummy Yan's offers great take-out Agave offers tasty tacos Asian cuisine for all seasons at Misoya Bistro Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW 10 things to know for Wednesday ... Our View: Any new gas tax must be equitable ... Measure 89 provides equality for women ... 10 things to know for Wednesday ... Our View: Any new gas tax must be equitable ... Measure 89 provides equality for women ... Origin Story: Even close friends can have secret identities Editor's Note: This is one in an occasional series of columns as reporter Ryan Pfeil documents the impending arrival of his first child. To see others in the series, read his blog at www.mailtribune.com/pocketprotector By Ryan Pfeil MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Posted Apr. 20, 2014 @ 12:01 am Updated Apr 20, 2014 at 2:00 AM By Ryan Pfeil Posted Apr. 20, 2014 @ 12:01 am Updated Apr 20, 2014 at 2:00 AM » Social News Editor's Note: This is one in an occasional series of columns as reporter Ryan Pfeil documents the impending arrival of his first child. To see others in the series, read his blog at www.mailtribune.com/pocketprotector Dear Bethany, Take a knee, kid. It's time for a little advice. I'm going to take advantage of moments like this for as long as I can, when I know you can't roll your eyes or run away from my sage tidings. Which, by the way, I have in spades. Just ask your mom. You're a captive audience for now. Nearly 6-month-old fetuses usually are, chained by a lifeline and hibernating in weightless, warm dark. So here goes. Are you ready? Know this: Watching your friends grow up is a beautiful oddity, a Tim Burton film brought to life. Also know this: Sometimes it takes shock value to make you realize their transformation. There's an iconic scene in "Batman Begins" where the Caped Crusader's childhood friend suddenly realizes that Bruce Wayne, a sad, orphaned billionaire, lurks beneath the constant scowl and expensive Halloween costume. "Wait," Bruce's friend Rachel Dawes pleads, as Batman prepares to jump off a roof and soar into a fear-toxin-fueled Gotham war. "You could die. At least tell me your name." "It's not who I am underneath, but what I do that defines me," the Dark Knight hisses, a nod to advice Rachel gave him earlier in the movie. Message received: "Bruce?" Rachel whispers as Bats leaps from the ledge. She's blindsided by this notion, this sudden, unexpected proof of maturity in her lifelong pal. I experienced this recently, Bethany. I watched four friends — two to-be moms and dads — go from Bruce to Batman in the blink of an eye. Their respective announcements that they had their own children on the way alerted me to this. Not to say this hadn't been happening in front of me. It's just easy to miss the steps leading up to the moment, I think. Friendships in your late 20s and early 30s are like that. People you've known for years and have built a considerable memory resume with can fade into the complicated painting of careers, marriage and distance. But it's the oddest thing: when friends like that make their own announcement that someone like you is on the way, it inevitably touches up their corner of the canvas and makes it shine. Such notifications have happened to me twice over the past few months, and both came with those primitive-looking ultrasound maps where doctors point at a human-ish looking shape and swear it's a baby. Both out-of-the-blue revelations came from friends I've known for years. I was roommates with one, and we still attend superhero flicks wearing superhero shirts. It's nice to know there's someone out there whose comics appreciation is DNA-deep. His wife was the first friend I met at college. I'm glad she stuck around. You should hear them sing together. Still another was the first person I latched onto in my first newsroom gig. There's a movie called "Superbad" you're not allowed to watch until you're older that we can quote every line from. His wife and I are at least in the top 10 when it comes to biggest fans of narrative non-fiction in the free world. I stood with both couples on their wedding days, honored on a Knights-of-the-Round-Table-caliber. Proud. There we were, pretending we knew what we were doing. I don't know, though; there was something about their respective "baby on board" announcements that made me see them in a different light; made me tilt my head, squint my eyes, and whisper, "Bruce?" Because these people I care for, as much as I have always respected them, have — at least from my perspective — thrown on capes and taken it to the next level. Their happiness and anxiousness and general difficulty in finding words to describe their love for a little person they've never met personify that. They can all but fly. At the very least, they'll have to learn. We're all trudging the same route, step by nervous, excited step to the fabled Land of Parenthood. Two of them are a bit farther ahead, the other pair are still catching up. You and their children are all due within four months of each other. I think you planned it that way. These ideas may be a bit beyond you for awhile, I get that. Friendship during childhood is different, more day-to-day. For me there were a lot more Legos and RC cars involved. I promise you that'll change someday, that it may even catch you off guard. And when it happens, when you realize your friends are more Batman than Bruce, it makes you want to be the same way. Reach reporter Ryan Pfeil at 541-776-4468 or [email protected]. Follow him at www.twitter.com/ryanpfeil. By Ryan Pfeil MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Posted Apr. 20, 2014 @ 12:01 am Updated Apr 20, 2014 at 2:00 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2014 Local Media Group, Inc. 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