Ned Luce

2021 has begun but has there really been a New Year? 

Maybe on the calendar, you know one of those with a magnetic back from your favorite real estate agent or long-lost friend in Florida. I was reminded of those when Brian Kelly, Editor of the Leader, mentioned in the post script to last week’s column that I looked forward to getting them. How did he know? 

In any case, I am not ready to declare a new year until I have been vaccinated, can go to the movies, have dinner out, go swimming in the Beach Club outdoor pool, watch the news without presidential politics being mentioned, and celebrate either the Kansas City Chiefs or the Seattle Seahawks as being Super Bowl Champs. 

With some luck that might all happen to us by the middle of the summer. Let’s agree though that none of that happened at midnight on Dec. 31.

Readers will remember that the 12-year-old grandson set up a 10-team fantasy football league for our family. 

BJ’s team, “DePauw,” played for the championship this past weekend. Her quarterback was Patrick Mahomes of the KC Chiefs who did not play because the team’s position in the playoffs was already certain. Her backup was the less spectacular, but more experienced, Tom Brady. 

BJ got to the championship game having done an excellent job of drafting players before the season began. You would come to a different conclusion about the drafting acumen for “Wabash” when you are advised of their last-place finish. 

It seems like the rain will not cease this winter. Several of my neighbors are smarter than I as three of them have headed for better environments for the next few months.

One went to Nevada, one went to California, and the third went to Utah to ski, noting on his departure that a season ski pass for an 85-year-old is only $45. He is the 85-year-old, by the way. 

The Leader office let me know early last week that I had received a Christmas card. Frankly, I suspected a “prank” since last week’s column dealt with Christmas cards/letters. I went to the office and was pleasantly surprised to pick up a nice card and note. 

The card was made by the legendary Kansas City company, Hallmark. They are those people responsible for all those holiday movies. 

OK, having lived in Kansas City for a long time, worked in “Crown Center,” (their logo is a crown), and had several friends who worked there, I am sensitive to the brand. It has to be Hallmark “when you care enough to the send the very best.”

So, this nice lady wrote a nice note to me in the card also suggesting I include an email address to facilitate communication with readers. See the new addition at the bottom of the column. I am optimistic you will send me your ideas for future columns. In general, my objective is to provide stories about Port Ludlow that will inform the rest of the county about this thriving metropolis dominated by the volunteering spirit of retirees. 

In addition, I try to provide informative stories about the rest of the county to the folks in Port Ludlow. 

Unfortunately, the card did not have a signature or any other way to contact the sender because I would have celebrated this communication with dozens of flowers and a case of wine. There, that ought to get a response.

In this continuing political chaos playing out in the country at this time I offer the following from Edward Abbey. “The duty of a patriot is to protect his country from its government.”

Love a curmudgeon, keep wearing your mask and have a great 2021.

(Ned Luce is a retired IBM executive and Port Ludlow resident; he can be found in cyberspace at ned@ptleader.com.)