You may have noticed, this summer has turned into an almost continuous display of American Flags in Port Ludlow, Port Hadlock and Chimacum. The inclement weather of Presidents’ Day last February prevented the flags subscribed to by local residents from being erected and displayed. The East Jefferson Rotary Club puts them up five holidays each year for those folks who have subscribed and since we were “weathered out” in February we put them up last weekend to celebrate, what else, Flag Day. Of course that display was preceded by Memorial Day and will be followed by Independence Day and Labor Day, thus it will be a summer full of flags! We do put them up on Veterans Day, but we all know that is way out of summer. I usually work on a team putting up flags in Port Ludlow with Terry Umbreit and Bob Hobart. We have concluded we are the “A Team” since we are on average more aged than the other teams. We had a minor issue last Friday morning as we tried to put up flags in front of “Port Ludlow Brokers.” The sprinklers were on and you know how guys hate to get wet? A fellow working on the landscaping took pity on us and turned the water off so we could avoid the watering.

I saw an interesting presentation by local Terry Copeland last week about sleep. It was noted that older folks getting less sleep have a greater incidence of Alzheimer’s Disease. That will keep you awake at night. In addition there was an observation that one of the great things about retirement is you have more time for naps and medical appointments. That’s the truth, Ruth.

Terry Umbreit was  a professor at Washington State University and he was lamenting that he was old enough that he was being invited to retirement parties for his former students. A recent trip to Honolulu included such an event. I noted that the memorial services were next, but probably not for the retirees.

Last Saturday a crowd gathered at the Beach Club to hold a surprise birthday party for Marilyn Durand on the occasion of the anniversary of her thirty-ninth birthday. The number of anniversaries since the thirty-ninth birthday was neither disclosed nor discussed.

After a recent morning meeting with Caleb Summerfelt at the Inn he and I went to the parking lot together and noticed a baby bird of unknown species struggling in the middle of the driveway. Being the compassionate souls we are, or Caleb is, we moved the chick to some level of safety under a nearby plant. Feeling sufficiently satisfied that my need to help the world had been met for the day I departed even though I may have helped deprive an eagle of a tasty breakfast. This was not enough for Caleb since he came back, retrieved the bird, and took it to the Wildlife Rescue Center on Bainbridge Island. They identified the bird as a pigeon and charged Caleb $100 for their trouble. No good deed goes unpunished. Then there is the issue of a hungry eagle.

Today is the party recognizing the Port Ludlow “post-mistress” Frances Rawski on her last day at the local post office. She has done a lot for us as she decorated the facility, started the weekly “Port Ludlow Cruise-Ins” and was a friendly face in the center of the village center. Be sure to stop down and wish her well.

Stories about the good people of the area bring to mind an observation by George Bernard Shaw. “A life spent making mistakes is more honorable than life doing nothing.”

Love a curmudgeon and have a great week!