End of summer chaos

Life in Ludlow

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The rush is on! It’s time to do the picnics, the boat rides, the family visits and then get ready for fall when the traffic drops off and the weather stays nice.

Last week was the “Lower Pioneer Picnic” at Kehele Park for the neighbors on the lower side of Pioneer Drive. (Very similar to “lower Manhattan”.) It was the biggest turnout we have seen since we moved here. Forty two of the neighbors, a few friends and at least one party crasher were on hand to enjoy Polish dogs, hot dogs, salmon patties and hamburgers cooked up by Vic Draper on Harold Brunstad’s grill transported to the park by Lynn Sorenson’s trailer. Each of the “picnickers” brought a dish to share and they were exceptional, being highlighted by some baked beans by someone I do not know and Sharon Draper’s fresh peach pie. The food was only eclipsed by the neighborhood fellowship and the requisite “organ recital” of various ills and maladies being experienced by most of the folks. Not all of the folks, mind you, but those not confessing to suffering are probably prone to engaging in self delusion.

Anne and Ramsey Smith took us and Steve/Fran Gross out on their Grand Banks boat for a wonderful evening carefully navigating the waters of Mats Mats Bay and the Twin Islands of Ludlow Bay followed by dinner on board. It was high tide so cruising those bays was made substantially easier and safer. Of course, getting a boat that size behind the Twin Islands would be impossible during anything but high tide. Good thing we did not run out of gas because rowing a boat that size would be a challenge.

The schedule is getting real busy this weekend. Pete and Helen Leenhouts are welcoming a new houseguest with “Jennifer” arriving from the Republic of Korea. She is the newest Rotary Foreign Exchange student sponsored by the East Jefferson Rotary Club. The annual Ice Cream Social is at the Beach Club on Saturday from 2-4 p.m.. Then the Cycle Marrowstone bike ride is Sunday. You have read about this in the past but there are just a couple of things you need to know. It is not too late to sign up, either on the Rotary Club website or at HJ Carroll Park before 9 a.m. In addition, one of the routes takes you by the rest stop staffed by BJ Luce, Linda and Karl Kostenbader and yours truly. The rest stop is at Marrowstone Winery. Why wouldn’t it be? Visits by the children and grandchildren for a few days put a punctuation mark on everything.

BJ and I were BIG winners last week. My Powerball ticket won $4. I won $2 at my poker game. BJ won the fewest games at the monthly Bunco game thus qualifying to reclaim the $5 entry fee. Not really a win, but certainly not a loss. We also got winning haircuts because Sonja had an injured hand. Her cousin Shawne came to the Bayside Barber Shop to fill in for Sonja so we got new and different stories as well as new and different haircuts. No worry, Sonja, we want you back.

I really do try to not complain too much but cable TV service from Wave prompts me to paraphrase a quote from Elbert Hubard. “The recipe for perpetual frustration is: Be satisfied with Wave service and content with their arrogance.”

Love a curmudgeon and have a great week!

(Ned Luce is a retired IBM executive who nonetheless still works for a printery in               Port Townsend.)