Virgil said we should “look with favour upon a bold beginning.”

Last week was not the beginning of winter, but it sure was bold with wind, snow, cold and some widespread irritation of the populace. Schools, business, and AARP tax assistance closures were the norm for early last week.

There were only two hearty men at Active Life Physical Therapy: Michael, who owns the place and could walk to work, and Dan, who bravely came all the way from Bremerton. No matter, patients canceled appointments in the face of the weather challenges, thus supply met the demand. It also should be noted that the entire support staff, Tamara and Ivy, showed up in force to handle patients.

Inclement weather seems to be followed almost immediately by clear and sunny skies, providing opportunities for people to take pictures of their backyards blanketed with snow and covered with birds looking for sustenance. Inevitably, these pictures make their way to the internet via Facebook or Nextdoor or some other computer-based source of entertainment, information, or self celebration. Some folks even write a newspaper column!

On the day after the storm last week, I was headed for Port Townsend, and I took my usual route up then down Swansonville Road. There was bright sunshine highlighting the snow-covered trees that hung over the road. If not for the ice on the road, it would have been a perfect picture of the day.

Last Friday, I went down Swansonville again. I travel the road so often that when there is something unusual in the woods, I tend to notice. Almost to the bottom near Beaver Valley Road, I spotted an unusual clump on a bare tree branch. I stopped for a closer inspection, and the clump started to move. Then it turned into two smaller clumps. A couple of raccoons began to stir, having been disturbed by my viewing, I suppose.

When you travel north on Beaver Valley Road from Swansonville, you may note the addition of a good-sized fishing boat in the valley. I suspect it is resting there before sea trials in the adjacent 1-acre pond.  

We attended the third annual dinner/auction at and for Chimacum High School. Dinner was a buffet of great tacos and all the appropriate fillings, and side dishes were served by GBF Catering. The auction was a combination silent and live offerings of nice items.

BJ and I attended with friends and regular Rotary contributors Steve and Fran Gross, but the place also was loaded with plenty of other Rotarians. I saw at least the following, most with spouses: auctioneer Corinne Gregory Sharpe, Pete Leenhouts, Terry Umbreit, Cammy Brown, Rick Thompson, Brian MacKenzie, Joe Noel and Morris James. Our table also had Bev, Michelle, Cheryl and Monica from Port Ludlow.

During the live auction, Corinne kept acknowledging somebody behind me bidding on a package of whale-watching tickets. I realized too late that it was BJ! I suspect the grandsons will be the recipients of this adventure. The money raised from the event will benefit the ASB and athletic programs at the school.

Thursday is Valentine’s Day, and last week we had more snow here than I have seen cumulatively in the past 10 years. With those two things in mind, I suggest you remember what Matt Groening said: “Love is a snowmobile racing across the tundra and then suddenly flips over, pinning you underneath. At night the ice weasels come.”

I am not sure I can tell you what that means.

Love a curmudgeon and have a happy Valentine’s Day!