Ned Luce

If you need to see a couple of miracles, you might look us up. Last week, we went to six events, each with somewhere between 20 and 100 people. 

One event had attendees safely scattered among several tables in an obvious attempt to avoid close contact with folks who might be carrying some kind of infectious disease. Another one had us shoulder to shoulder talking very loudly and closely in an attempt to return to the joys of Christmases past. Masks were seldom seen. 

The miracles? At this writing we have not yet exhibited any symptoms of the flu, COVID, RSV, or rabies.

Allan and Nancy Kiesler are making a determined and valiant effort to revive the very popular “Dine and Discover” programs of Port Ludlow’s past by starting with a “Dessert and Discover” version with limited attendees and only dessert instead of a complete “potluck” smorgasbord. Their work is appreciated and seems to be working. 

Last week’s “discover” program was at the Bay Club and was presented by Anne Shaffer, the executive director of the Coastal Watershed Institute in Port Angeles. The mission of the institute is to protect and restore the nearshore of the central and western Olympic Peninsula. Anne presented the astounding results and remaining challenges of the removal of the dams on the Elwha River which is leading to the return of salmon to the spawning grounds of the river. 

The Ajax Café was the location for the annual gathering of the supporters of the Jefferson Community Foundation. We enjoyed seeing many folks we might not have seen since the beginning of that pandemic thing. Friends Liesl Slabaugh from the Port Townsend Marine Science Center, Carla Caldwell the past executive director of the JCF, and David Goldsmith, an occasional member of the local Port Ludlow poker group. (David whined about not being invited to play recently since the last time he played he lost $1.25 and he needs to win it back. Probably not going to happen.) We spent a lot of time taste-testing the cookies with County Commissioner Greg Brotherton and his delightful wife Stacey. Board president Amanda Funaro provided a short speech on the success of the JCF and expressed appreciation for the support of the folks in attendance. Then it was back to the wine and cookies!

The annual Change of Watch for the Port Ludlow Yacht Club was held at the Old Alcohol Plant and was magnificently organized again this year by member Tish Griffin-Satre. 

Over a hundred members of the club enjoyed the libations, food, and dancing whilst celebrating 19 new members of the club, the accomplishments of the past year by Commodore Bryan Gilbreath, and the installation of Andi Pistay as the new commodore. Again this year the tone for the evening was set by the irreverent invocation by Steven Gross. 

The Printery Christmas celebration was held at TommyKnockers Cornish Pastry in Port Townsend. The good news is that we enjoy going out for the evening this time of year to see all the lights and decorations of the season, particularly those put up by Carol Wise in the area next to Coon Plumbing on the way into town. The bad news is that evening we fought the wind and rain on our way down the street to the restaurant. 

Again, we had some good food and exchanged white elephant gifts but it does seem strange to give a bottle of wine one doesn’t want anymore and get a bottle of wine one probably wouldn’t buy. I got a box of “Oval Dippers,” some small dishes BJ wouldn’t let me trade. 

I wrote recently in this column about the sad state of our Christmas tree. Bev Rothenborg caught up with me at the Port Ludlow Performing Arts concert to notify me there is a GoFundMe page set up to finance a new tree for us.

The Leader Christmas Party is TODAY so don’t expect to change your subscription this afternoon. 

You can get Alexa to play a Christmas tune I heard the other day for the very first time. It was Betty Johnson in 1954 singing, “I want Eddie Fisher for Christmas.” 

Love a curmudgeon and may you Party Hearty. 

(Ned Luce — the life of any party — is a retired IBM executive and Port Ludlow resident. Contact Ned at ned@ptleader.com.)