Ned Luce

Next week is a special week for the folks in Port Ludlow as the Leader does another “Port Ludlow Saturation Issue” and even those who do not subscribe or buy the paper will enjoy their own special copy. 

Don’t miss it. This could be the most exciting thing happening this fall unless you think you will find out something new during the political debates!

Last week provided at least one eye-opening exchange for me. I was wearing a T-shirt commemorating the formal surrender ending World War II on Sept. 2, 1945 — 75 years ago. The documents were signed on the deck of the battleship USS Missouri in Tokyo Harbor. In a conversation with a colleague at the Printery, who was not only younger than I but also clearly somewhat insensitive, she asked if I was there for the ceremony.

Frankly, there may be a few folks around here who were there and I salute you. The truth is I was a little young on that day. Frankly, most people really don’t think I am as old as I am until they hear me stand up. She must have heard me stand up too many times.  

I heard a great Ben Franklin quote the other day that still rings true in these days of justifiable concern and unrest. He is reported to have said, “Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are.” 

Each day I get words of wisdom or quotes from some old friends or readers of this column. While things are generally slow-paced here in Port Ludlow or Jefferson County I thought I might dredge a few up to share and maybe bring a smile to you, at least for a minute.

Voltaire observed, “What most people consider as virtue after the age of 40 is simply a loss of energy.” 

Ethel Barrymore is supposed to have said, “You grow up the day you have your first real laugh — at yourself.”

John Bright said, “He is a self-made man and worships his creator.” I wonder whom he was talking about.

I hope you enjoyed Labor Day this past weekend. As most of you know I am a member of the Rotary Club that accepts donations from folks who would like us to put up American flags on several holidays each year to support scholarships for deserving locals. 

Yep, that is what we did last weekend. I was having trouble installing one of the neighbor’s flags given the unappreciated rockiness of the dirt when another neighbor showed up with his “rock bar.” It was unexpected and very welcome help. 

Ten of us gathered at Molcajete in Port Ludlow for a post flag installation breakfast on Saturday morning even though they don’t really have much of a breakfast menu. They do have a couple of dishes with eggs so that was good enough for me. BJ and I spent a delightful hour talking with our old friends Marti McMahon and Bob Farr and even talking about former Port Ludlow car guy Skip Owen. He lives in Arizona with his now completed 1958 Oldsmobile.  

Now for a quote from Charles Darwin. “It is not the strongest of the species that survive, not the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.”

Love a curmudgeon, wear your mask, test negative and stay positive!

(Ned Luce is a retired IBM executive and Port Ludlow resident with no minimum of maxims.)