Tag Archives: 2025

Jul23

A History Lesson

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A History Lesson

Wenatchee is the city with the largest population in Chelan County in the state of Washington. It also houses the county seat.

The name ” Wenatchee” is derived from the Sahaptin language spoken by the Yakima Indians. This dialect defines the term as “river flowing from a canyon.” It originally referred to the village where the Wenatchi people lived which was located at the confluence of the Columbia and Wenatchee rivers.

Yakima is another interesting word. One theory about the name of this city is that it is based on an old legend that an Indian chief’s daughter broke the tribal rules and ran away. She then settled along the river called Yakama. So it follows that the most widely accepted meaning of Yakima is “runaway.”

Where did these Native American people come from? Archaeologists and tradition suggest that they came from Siberia and first settled in the Puget Sound area, where they adapted to the local environment. The tribes included the Suquamish, Snoqualmie and Nisqually.

Many federally recognized tribes still live in the state of Washington today. Their traditions and history have greatly impacted the culture. They operate successful businesses, such as seafood processing and casinos. The Puyallup Tribe is the largest and has more than 4000 members.

And now for the name “Washington State.” The original name was Columbia Territory. It was changed to Washington Territory in 1853. In 1889 it became a state called Washington.

That’s it for today’s history lesson.

Jul21

You’re Never There

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You’re Never There

I disagree. I can’t say I’m never there, but I definitely can say that I’m seldom there. And just where is there? Why, it’s Facebook of course!

Just why am I seldom there? Because life is to be lived. That means up front and personal. That means interacting with other people. It doesn’t mean staring at a screen on my phone or on my laptop all day. That isn’t living.

Basically, I share my WordPress blog on Facebook. I belong to three writers groups on Facebook which I don’t always check out as often as I would like to. I’ve learned a lot about writing and publishing from these groups. As I’ve said many times before, send me a private message if you want me to be aware of something important going on in your life. With hundreds of friends on Facebook, I don’t have time to waste scrolling and sifting through far too many shared posts every day to find the ones that may truly be worth reading.

Occasionally I read posts on Facebook from a group called If You Grew Up In Winnipeg. There are two types of people who post here…those who still live there and haven’t experienced life outside of Winnipeg and those that have escaped Winnipeg when they have discovered the adventures that can be found elsewhere. However I must admit that I do find some of the photos quite interesting.

I had a stimulating conversation with a friend in Winnipeg last night. We’re both divorced, have adult children and grandchildren. We both concluded that our lives have not turned out the way we envisioned them years ago. But we do find our lives challenging as well as fulfilling.

And I wholeheartedly continue to embrace this philosophy…………………. First Coffee, Now What?

And you?

Jul15

July

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July

“Be yourself; everyone else is taken.”

That’s one of my mantras, for both living and writing. So here goes….

So far it’s been a good month. I haven’t had any alerts blaring at me on my phone about wildfires or child abductions. And the month is halfway over.

Of course that doesn’t stop me from reading about wildfires in other areas of the state. And then there are the devastating flash floods and the vicious tornados attacking several states in the south, the Midwest and the east coast.

Aside from the high temperatures, it’s been pretty tranquil around here. Later this week I’ll be in Leavenworth up in the amphitheater enjoying another excellent production of The Sound of Music by Leavenworth Summer Theater. This is always one of the highlights of my summers here. And I’m thankful that it isn’t smokey this year. My stock of I-95s is still tucked away in my closet.

I’m planning on going up to Winthrop in a couple of weeks barring any wildfires. It’s a small town known for its Old West theme, including wooden boardwalks and saloon-style buildings. Quite a contrast to the amphitheater or the Bavarian Village of Leavenworth.

Pangborn Airport is slated to get new runways and will be closed for about a month beginning in September. I sure hope it will reopen by the time I need to fly back to Mexico in October. TSA at Sea-Tac is no fun.

Dead Dog In The Freezer. That’s the title of the piece I’ll be reading at writers group tomorrow.

What has an eye but cannot see? A needle.

Time to end this post. Thanks for reading and enjoy the rest of your day.

Jul8

Beam Me Back

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Beam Me Back

My childhood was in the fifties and my teenage years in the sixties. I never thought about it back then but when I look back at it today……….”Those were the days, my friend, we thought they’d never end,” sang Mary Hopkin. But those days did end. I look around me and can’t believe what I see today.

We can’t blame everything on the availability of technology, although many would prefer to do so. Kids today aren’t nearly as carefree as we were back then. Fire drills have been replaced by other drills in the classroom; drills that were unimaginable when I was young.

My own kids came along in the eighties. At a very young age they were playing games like “Don’t talk to Strangers,” not Cowboys and Indians. They learned to decode alarm systems instead of coming home to unlocked doors after school. The internet was at their fingertips to read about war and violence. As a child I wasn’t even allowed to watch the 11 o’clock news as my parents thought it might give me nightmares.

Today it’s worse. Here in the Wenatchee Valley crime rates are higher than the national average. We are all still reeling from the tragic death of three sisters at the hands of their murderous father. And he is still at large. This is something that should be reserved for a Lifetime movie. It shouldn’t be happening in real life in our own backyard.

As a child, we played outside with friends until the streetlights came on. Neighbors looked out for each other and someone was always checking up on the kids, whoever’s house they happened to be playing at. The front porch was a popular place to sit. Today people back out of their garages and don’t even know their neighbors. Backyard decks allow for even more privacy; or is it seclusion?

Hitchhike? Accept a ride from a stranger while waiting at a bus stop? Unheard of today. I wouldn’t even want my child to use public transit so those options are definitely eliminated. The term “helicopter parent” would absolutely apply to me. And that isn’t good parenting either. Kids have to learn to make choices, preferably good ones. And they don’t have the opportunity to do that if they’re overprotected.

And then there’s the opposite. There are the kids who have too much freedom, the kids whose parents are too wrapped up in themselves to notice the warning signs that their kids are struggling and getting into trouble. And when they finally do notice a problem, the blame is more often than not put on the teacher or the coach instead of the parent.

Dick, Jane and Sally. Spot and Puff. Where have you gone?

Jul4

It’s The Fourth

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It’s The Fourth

The first week in July has been a busy one with friends, writers group and book club. But the highlight is definitely the time I spent volunteering with VBS (Vacation Bible School) here in East Wenatchee at Breath of Life Church.

It was wonderful to have the opportunity to spread God’s word to so many kids by engaging them in fun activities that included skits, songs, games, crafts and even snacks. A few years back I wrote a blog post about my wish to have my own granddaughter attend one of these events. It hasn’t happened yet but I still hope that one year she will make it down here from Canada.

Today is the Fourth of July. While many associate this day with barbecues and fireworks, the history behind it is important. This is the day when the Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress back in 1776. The thirteen American colonies were now officially separated from Great Britain.

Later on today we’ll be going out for dinner and then over to a friend’s to watch the fireworks. I’m certain we’ll enjoy a spectacular view of the display from the deck. And it will be a pleasure to avoid the traffic and congestion at the park below.

Happy Fourth!

Jun27

Writing Prompts

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Writing Prompts

Here on WordPress, writing prompts are suggested for those days when you want to write and are struggling to come up with a topic of your own. I scrolled through a few today and I’m not inspired to write using even one of the suggested prompts. And I think back to that creative writing course I took back in college. The prof’s advice….Write about what you know.

Having been around for more than a few decades, I think I know a lot. Yet I also believe that there is still a great deal for me to learn in my lifetime. After all, you can never know too much.

Or can you?

I have gingerly gone back to reading daily newsfeeds. Locally, the news is all about the ongoing manhunt for a father accused of murdering his three daughters. Nationally, the headlines deal with the political situation. Globally, all eyes are poised on a potential World War lll.

On a happier note, I attended a luncheon the other day for a woman in my book club who was celebrating her 99th birthday. She is moving to the other side (a Washingtonian knows this means to the other side of the mountains) this week. We’ll all have to travel next year if we want to attend the 100th.

I’ve learned a lot about American history in the past few months. Book club has focused on historical fiction. The current read is all about Patsy Jefferson, daughter of Thomas Jefferson. I find it to be lengthy and long-winded, although a few others find it most interesting and a delight to read. However, I must admit that I do find American history to be much more colorful than Canadian history.

I wonder what the history books will say twenty or thirty years from now. It will depend if they’re written by a Democrat or a Republican; or in the case of Canada, a Liberal or a Conservative. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine the world I’m living in now. Enough about that.

Back to happy. Come to Cashmere this Saturday for a Founders Day celebration. I’ll be volunteering at a book sale organized by Friends of the Cashmere Library. Other events include a classic car show, a parade, games for kids and entertainment.

I decided to end this post with a Johnny joke, because we can all use some humor in our lives.

Teacher: “If I gave you 2 cats and another 2 cats and another 2, how many would you have?” Johnny: “Seven.” Teacher: “No, listen carefully… If I gave you two cats, and another two cats and another two, how many would you have?” Johnny: “Seven.” Teacher: “Let me put it to you differently. If I gave you two apples, and another two apples and another two, how many would you have?” Johnny: “Six.” Teacher: “Good. Now if I gave you two cats, and another two cats and another two, how many would you have?” Johnny: “Seven!” Teacher: “Johnny, where in the heck do you get seven from?!” Johnny: “Because I’ve already got a freaking cat!”

Groan………..

Jun18

Music Triggers Memories

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Music Triggers Memories

We all grew up listening to music. Swing, jazz and big band dominated the 30s and 40s. Rock n roll evolved from various genres of music back in the 50s. My teenage years were the 60s. There will never be another decade like this again and no other decade need even dare to compare.

The 60s began with the British invasion. I attended concerts featuring The Rolling Stones, Herman’s Hermits, The Who, The Kinks, The Hollies, The Animals, Peter and Gordon as well as Chad and Jeremy. Sadly The Beatles never made it to Winnipeg back then.

I also attended concerts featuring American artists such as Paul Revere and The Raiders, Simon and Garfunkel, Sonny and Cher, Blues Magoos and The Monkees. But by far my favorite group was The Beach Boys.

The first time I saw them in person was at the old Winnipeg Auditorium, a popular venue for concerts back in the day. The promotor was leery about the size of the crowd they might attract so this smaller facility was chosen rather than the larger Winnipeg Stadium. The group I saw back then had all the original members…Brian Wilson, Carl Wilson, Dennis Wilson, Mike Love and Al Jardine.

While Brian Wilson wrote several songs about the beach, (such as Surfin’ USA and Surfin’ Safari), in reality he was afraid of the water and spent little time by the ocean. Instead he surfed a different wave in the dangerous waters of drugs.

In the mid-80s, the Beach Boys returned to Winnipeg and I took my six-year-old son Kyle to the concert. People sitting near us marveled that Kyle knew all the words and happily sang along throughout the evening. Kyle was a big fan of this group. He grew up listening to their music as his mom constantly played their cassettes. (By then I had replaced the albums with the then new modern cassettes).

But the group we saw in the 80s was very different from the one in the 60s. Brian Wilson, co-founder and leader of the group, was not on stage. Plagued by mental health issues resulting from constant substance abuse, his ability to go on tour had been severely restricted.

This talented musician passed away on June 11th of this year at the age of 82. He is gone; but his music is sure to live on in our hearts forever.

Jun12

Where Do you See Yourself Five Years From Now?

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Where Do you See Yourself Five Years From Now?

Anyone who has ever worked a day in their life has been asked this question in an interview at some point. I don’t know about you, but I’ve never gotten the answer right.

And when I’ve been on the other side of the desk there is one response I don’t think I’ll ever forget. I was interviewing potential support workers in a group home for mentally challenged adults. As a manager, I was well aware of the questions I was allowed to ask as well as the ones I was not allowed to ask. But the five year was always a favorite. I got the usual responses about the entry level position being a stepping stone to a future career in social services. I also heard that a part-time job while attending school would provide the much needed funds to further their education. And then there were the ones with the canned responses of doing something meaningful and making a difference in someone else’s life.

But this one response came across as being both brave and blatantly honest. The interviewee was a recent high school graduate. “I haven’t got a f***ing clue.” He went on to explain that his parents were pressuring him to go to university. He had no interest in doing this and wanted to head out into the work world first. Criminal records check was clean and he had minimal volunteer experience on his resume. Working with mentally challenged adults sounded interesting to him. He was also willing to take on overnight shifts and work on weekends. I hired him. And he turned out to be quite as good as he looked on paper.

While I don’t recall recall any of my own responses to the 5 year question when I was being interviewed, I highly doubt that I was as blatantly honest as this young man. It’s also been decades since I’ve been asked this question in an interview. Instead I’m quite confident that I’ve asked it of others far more times.

It’s also been years since I retired. And if anyone asked me that 5 year question today, there’s no doubt in my mind that I would be as honest as that young man was, although I would probably express it in a far less colorful manner. Sometimes I can’t fathom what my life will be like in five months or five weeks or even five days, so please don’t ask me about five years from now.

But it is a good question to ask. It is something to contemplate.

I’ve told you my answer. What’s yours?

Jun6

Hug Your Kids Tight

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Hug Your Kids Tight

Last week a horrendous event occurred here in the Wenatchee Valley. It wasn’t an accident. It was cold-blooded murder. While I don’t personally know the family involved, I can’t help but feel overwhelmed by this senseless tragedy. Actually a myriad of feelings fill my head. Frustration that an amber alert hadn’t been called immediately when a distraught mother reported that her ex-husband hadn’t returned her three daughters after a custodial visit. Anger that the father had done the unimaginable. He had murdered his three daughters. Compassion for the mother deprived of the opportunity to watch her children grow up, sharing in their joys and sorrows. And fear because this dangerous man is still at large.

While today more than ever people are encouraged to seek professional help when mental health issues arise, they are often reluctant to do so. Sadly sometimes the resources are not always readily available. There is also the danger of a misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment. The system definitely has its flaws.

Wild speculations about the circumstances that led to this horrific event fill Facebook, fueled by the fact that the father was a veteran who had served in the military. This isn’t a time for Facebook gossip. This isn’t an internet soap opera. This is real life involving real people.

Instead, this is a time for prayer; for the mother, the three little angels now in heaven, and even the father.

May30

So How Was Your Childhood?

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So How Was Your Childhood?

As I lazily sipped coffee and checked my emails in bed this morning, the TV was on in the background. But instead of a movie in Spanish, the channel was INSP and the show was an old western. My favorites to watch include The Rifleman, High Chapparal and Gunsmoke. And they bring back memories of my childhood; the days when we only had three channels and no cable.

As an adult, it’s a mystery to me why my parents allowed me to watch these violent shows where people were always being shot, killed or scalped yet viewing a newscast was forbidden. After all, the daily news might somehow cause me to have nightmares. At least that’s what they told me.

I had a cap gun. I can still feel it in my hand and I can still smell it after it went off. As kids, we always played Cowboys and Indians. One of my friends actually had a toy bow and arrow, so being an Indian wasn’t all that bad. But the good guys were always the Cowboys and the bad guys were always the Indians. And my skills with that cap gun were far superior to those with a bow and arrow.

I also had water pistols. I mean, you could still always yell “Bang! Bang! You’re Dead!” using those instead of cap guns.

Flash ahead to when my kids came along. Their water pistols looked like animals, not guns. And I never allowed them to have any kind of toy gun. But I did let them watch the newscasts on TV. And I’m certain I let them watch more than a few TV shows and movies that were probably quite inappropriate for their age. And they seemed to have turned out okay. They aren’t serial killers or criminals.

But growing up in the 50s was a lot more “wholesome” than being a child in the 80s. It was safe to play outside until the streetlights came on. Everyone knew their neighbors. We had front porches not decks in the backyard. We didn’t have attached garages so we actually interacted with our neighbors. We never locked our doors in the 50s. My kids learned how to arm and disarm an alarm system.

We’re in the 2020s now. Kids have drills informing them what to do if there is a shooter in the school. And I thought fire drills were scary enough!

I wonder if someday my kids might look back and ponder about their childhood compared with their kids’ childhood.

So how was your childhood?