Ned Luce

A trip to Tacoma and back last Saturday provided a glimpse of life with masks as we transition from the pandemic. 

We planned and failed to get up early enough to get to the monthly “Cars and Coffee” at Griot’s Garage in Tacoma. The featured marque was Porsche and we looked forward to seeing more of the cars displayed by the obsessed. 

The late start got us there around 11:30 in time to see the last of the cars depart and get a half donut. No need for coffee, more need for a restroom. 

By the way, this store has the cleanest restrooms in Western Washington. 

I had also had some business to talk about with the manager as Pat Cooper and I solicit sponsors for the Rotary Car Show we are putting together for September. 

We then took a look at the Porsches on display in Griot’s showroom before heading out for lunch at Marlene’s down the street. Unlike Griot’s there was a sign on the door telling us that if we were vaccinated we need NOT wear masks. That policy became immediately obvious as we consulted with an un-masked manager about the location of the deli counter. 

As it turns out her name is Darcie and she had a sandwich named after her!

BJ had a plan to use this trip as a way to visit the Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma but given the unexpected nice weather was instead considering a ferry trip over to Vashon Island. Never been there. 

I was an easy sell so we took the ferry over and headed north with the lighthouse as the destination, along with many other folks. Not many masks; well, it was outside! 

After that there was a latte at the Vashon Island Coffee Roasterie where we could mingle with other tourists and locals. There was a stern admonition to wear those masks! 

We stopped in to visit Mike Kollins, a good friend of our son and daughter as Mike and his family have a nice cottage near the north end of the island. We were happy to see his mother visiting from Beechwood, Ohio near my newly notorious hometown of Hudson. 

She was aware of the controversy generated by a classmate of mine from Hudson who, while giving a speech at the annual American Legion Memorial Day Ceremony in Hudson, was cut off in the middle of the speech by the wife of another classmate. This occurred as he was relating the history of African American involvement in similar celebrations after the Civil War. The story made it to Cleveland, Seattle, New York newspapers as well as CNN. And now it is in The Leader! Get the latest by looking for Barney Kemter on Memorial Day.

So then it was off to the ferry to Southworth except for a while we were in the wrong line! 

We unsuccessfully looked for dinner options in Southworth, Bremerton and Silverdale, finally deciding Poulsbo was providing the best options. We settled on “That’s-a-Some Italian Ristorante” and were escorted to table number one by the delightful Marie Pelland who owns the place with her husband Tom. (Or they are in the process of selling it.) 

Back in August of 1994 Marie waited on a young couple who turned out to be John F. Kennedy Jr. and his wife Carolyn. Marie named the table number one, “#1,” after John and Carolyn died in a plane crash in 1999 and mounted a short story about them on the wall above the table. 

BJ and I had been verbally jousting about who were attractive men and she pointed to John’s picture and exclaimed he was one of the most attractive of the species. Dinner and wine were great and it was fun talking to Marie and Tom. 

So, masks are certainly in evidence and in many ways are following the CDC guidelines which actually do not require masks if one has been vaccinated. 

Yet, there are still places like the ferries and commercial establishments not requiring them. 

As I try to operate in this environment, I am reminded of what Tolstoy is reported to have said. “Time and patience are the strongest warriors.”

Love a curmudgeon and have a great week. 

(Ned Luce is a retired IBM executive and Port Ludlow resident and some day, some where, a sandwich will be named after him. Comments on the appropriate type of sandwich filling can be sent to Ned at ned@ptleader.com.)