Ned Luce

It was a special Mothers’ Day on several levels. 

Hard to miss were the Major League baseball teams sporting uniforms incorporating the color pink, I suppose as a reminder to check for breast cancer. There were pink bats, hats, stockings, gloves and other adornments visible in the games. 

In other baseball news on Mothers’ Day, the Seattle Mariners won over the Tampa Bay Rays 2-1 in the 10th inning. A bonus for those mothers who are baseball fans!

I took BJ to the Dusty Green Café for breakfast and there were plenty of mothers in attendance, some younger, some older and some I am not sure were mothers. 

Geri Goudy was there with her daughter Erin. Erin and her husband have been doing some work on their recently “moved into” home here in Port Ludlow and we are thankful they have finished up some recent work. 

As it turns out, Sam Clement, a quality painter with whom many in Port Ludlow are familiar, was doing some work for them and he was scheduled to come to our place for some touch-up work. We waited patiently until he arrived last week. 

Julie Umbreit appeared to be enjoying breakfast with husband Terry. 

Theresa Muir was also having breakfast with husband Mike Titus. 

Then there were families with children and grandchildren doing a wonderful job of lowering the average age of the Port Ludlow clientele! 

Our children left it to me to buy breakfast for their mother, a chore I relish as it gives us a chance to enjoy being out in the vibrant Port Ludlow society, such as it is. 

BJ actually paid for the meal while I was in the little boys room and then, our daughter called later to tell us that she had called the café to pay for the meal. Too late, though, it was the best of intentions.

BJ had a $50 gift card for Valley Nursery in Poulsbo that she has been itching to use on a hanging plant for the front of the house. We were over there and found ourselves examining the various plant options. BJ was looking through the plants displayed whilst I hung out on a nearby bench passing, (not all that welcome), judgment on the ones she was considering.

Alas, we finally agreed on a nice-looking specimen that would positively influence the opinions of the regular groups of folks walking by, causing them to go “oooohhh” and “aaaahhhh.”

After paying for the plant, she tells me that card still has $0.81 on it. This is a woman who knows how to manage money. 

Then she informs me that she has a $100 gift card for Central Market in Poulsbo so she is planning another trip. 

These trips to Poulsbo are not really inconvenient given the number of medically themed trips we make to the area anyway. 

We got a call recently from a local friend. When she asked how I was, I mentioned that I was managing this bum hip. I incorrectly assumed that she was a regular reader of this column and she was aware of my regular whining about the bum hip. Not so. She is not a subscriber and she was unaware of the hip problem. 

I mean, it just isn’t fair. I have read her literary offerings in the Voice, the least she can do is return the favor. 

Now for the good news. 

The surgery in my hip is scheduled for next week and I can’t wait. 

The bad news is that I will be searching for something new to whine about. 

BJ has been a real trooper helping me with almost everything. With a nod to Garfield from the comic strips, BJ and I agree that we now have something in common. Our worlds revolve around me.

Love a curmudgeon and have a great week. 

(Ned Luce is a retired IBM executive and Port Ludlow resident. Contact Ned at ned@ptleader.com.)