FIFTY FOUR FORTY OR FIGHT!

FIFTY FOUR FORTY OR FIGHT!

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So, how's your Washington state history knowledge? Do you remember learning about "Fifty Four Forty or Fight" in school? The slogan comes from a boundary dispute in the 1840's between the U.S. and Great Britain involving an area including the modern states of Oregon, Washington, Idaho and parts of Montana, Wyoming and even British Columbia- generally known as the Oregon territory. It referred to the latitude line of fifty four degrees and forty minutes North which the U.S. wanted as…

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WILLIAM TAYLOR 1922 -2002 COACH AND MENTOR

WILLIAM TAYLOR 1922 -2002 COACH AND MENTOR

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Today, January 24th, is the annversary of the death of a great coach and mentor to me, William Taylor. Many of us can point to one person or perhaps several people who played significant roles in our life. People who made the difference at a tipping point in our lives. Someone whose words or actions changed our attitude and the direction of our life for the better. For me, after my parents, it is a short list of those who…

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THE STRANGE TRUCE OF CHRISTMAS 1914

THE STRANGE TRUCE OF CHRISTMAS 1914

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I've written about this event before, but a recent book on the trench warfare of the first World War made me think about this again. World War I began in July of 1914 involving primarily Germany, Russia, France & the United Kingdom. It wasn’t until April of 1917 that America entered the war against Germany. President Wilson had tried to keep America out of the war, but German submarine attacks sinking American ships caused America to join the allies. The…

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I’M FED UP WITH POLITICS

I’M FED UP WITH POLITICS

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I wasn't going to comment on politics because it is such a waste of time, however I don’t know about you but I am totally fed up with the Republican candidate’s political efforts and their debates as well as a worthless Congress locked in a total stalemate while people suffer economic pain. Who cares about the army of Republican want-to-be-presidents as they continue to debate while the public knows they will say anything to get elected…well with the exception of…

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LOVE OF NEIGHBOR IN ACTION

LOVE OF NEIGHBOR IN ACTION

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According to a report in a Christian blog  http://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Library.sr/CT/RA/k/274/No-Greater-Love.htmthe February 13, 1987, issue of The Missileer, a newspaper of the 45th Space Wing, U.S. Air Force, ran this brief and apparently true story by Colonel John W. Mansur: The mortar rounds landed in an orphanage run by a missionary group in the small Vietnamese village. The missionaries and one or two children were killed outright and several more children were wounded, including one girl about eight years old. People from…

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PURSE SEINE FISHING a book by Gary Keister

PURSE SEINE FISHING a book by Gary Keister

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Fishing on the salmon purse seine boats was an enormous part of my life experince which benefited me the most. The lessons learned, the relationship to men, most of whom were much older and poor at English and being involved in a clean life on the sea will always be a huge part of who I am. I've written about this more then once. I referred to Brent Lunsford wonderful book about te Croation fishing families, including my own, of…

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ELIZABETH CATHERINE BARNETT

ELIZABETH CATHERINE BARNETT

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I'm writing this about my late mother in law, Elizabeth (Betty) Catherine Devitt, who was born December 5, 1910 in Butte,Montana and died December 20, 1995 in Puyallup. Her children included my wife, Lita, Devitt (deceased) Hollis, Barbara and Monica. She was a very remarkable woman in so many respects. She was also someone for whom I had a great deal of admiration, respect and love. Betty's parents were Merritt John Devitt and Elizabeth McCarthy Devitt. She was baptized at…

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PHYLLIS FLIPPA LUVERA 1870 – 1946

PHYLLIS FLIPPA LUVERA 1870 – 1946

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My grandmother on dad's side of the family, Phyllis Filippa Luvera died in Anacortes, Washington on December 20, 1946. By coincidence, that is also the day my wife's mother died. Nonna Luvera was born in Italy May 26, 1870 and spoke little English. Since dad believed the children should speak English we never learned Italian and could only communicated with her through dad. She was typical Italian grandmother, an excellent cook and who was always feeding us something. She had…

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NICHOLAS PETRISH

NICHOLAS PETRISH

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Nick Petrish died this morning at his home in Anacortes. Nick and I were friends since our days as grade school students at the Whitney Grade school in Anacortes over 70 years ago. We also went through Junior High and High School together.  At Anacortes, we played on the same football and basketball teams (although he was younger and a better athlete than I was). Our lives remained joined since that time. In fact, we ended up spending the majority…

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YES, I AM STILL ALIVE

YES, I AM STILL ALIVE

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I’m just reporting in so you’ll know I am alive yet. We have been away from work for months and there is a slight concern to learn the office seems to run just fine without us. The rule is you should never go on vacation because the rest of the office will find out you aren’t needed.These past 7 months haven’t been a vacation however. Four surgeries later, I have a new knee joint. We are hopeful the joint is…

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