Full of food, football, kickball, family, friends, fun and some fabulous ferry travel. All on one day! Our Thanksgiving may have been just like yours because we saw a lot of you people doing the same things we did!

Our 10-year-old grandson came to visit early last week as he has done for several years since the Seattle School District elementary schools close for all of Thanksgiving week.

He visited us because we insisted he come even though he brought a cough with him. Heck, I had one of my own to share. The Covid 19 tests were negative so our coughs were just annoying.

Thanksgiving morning saw us heading for the ferry in Kingston to again enjoy the day with family and friends. As you have no doubt heard, there seem to be some problems with the ferry system these days with fewer staff and ferries available providing the service.

Unlike previous years we decided to avoid the dreaded seven-hour wait in the car as well as the $75 Tacoma Narrows Bridge fee and walk on the ferry. Thousands of folks if not more had the same idea.

It was a great plan. You can drive into that big parking lot adjacent to the ferry waiting area, park your car, pay for parking at the kiosk in the lot and trundle up the ramp to the ferry.

Unfortunately, one needed to drive to the upper reaches of the parking lot and squeeze into one of the last five spaces available. OK, got that part done and walked down to join about 200 folks waiting in line to pay for the parking space at the kiosk in the middle of the parking lot.

The grandson and I continued walking as BJ volunteered to stand in line and pay the fee. I scuffled along and the grandson dragged his suitcase as BJ stayed and claimed to be the fastest walker of the three of us.

BJ confessed on the ferry that she had organized a group that was NOT going to pay the fee if it appeared they were going to miss the ferry. It was that rebel spirit of the 1960’s rising up again. I don’t know if she had a plan if they towed the car.

The ferry had a full complement of folks going to the Seahawks game in addition to the Thanksgiving Day celebrants. You could tell them apart because of the pumpkin pies.

We encountered Michael Haberpointer and his family as well as the Franks twins, Eugenia and Olivia with their mother. I can tell you this, it was a party. People carrying food of all kinds while wearing the dorkiest of turkey hats.

If you walk on the ferry in Kingston, here is the secret information that completely justifies your annual subscription cost for the Leader. You do not have to pay for your parking spot in Kingston at the kiosk in the middle of the lot.

As it turns out, there is another kiosk somewhat out of the way down near the headquarters building. You walk past the little fountain without going up the ramp.

Yep, we went on to a great feast with 25 of our family and friends in Seattle. The seniors again lost the annual kickball game due in no little part to my rarely used skills.

Man, it was a long walk back to the car.

Love a curmudgeon and have a great week.

ned@ptleader.com