A father and his two little daughters came down to go fishing at our lake-front public dock. The bell rang as the door opened and I exited my office to greet them, although I had already seen them on the camera monitor screen as they came down the stairs. “Could I get some bait?” the […]
To Ponder
Downtown Puyallup – Meridian Cafe
Peg and I had eaten here before. This time we had to wait while a long, long, long train went by before crossing the track to cafe heaven. Both of us could feel the shaking of the train track wheels for minutes well before and after the cars went quickly by. The atmosphere was welcoming, […]
Let’s Talk! – Running in the Rhythm of the Dark
Are you ready to switch off your screens and ponder or discuss another writing/conversation prompt from my friend Tyrean Martinson’s book? Here’s my take on it. I’m NOT a runner, let me tell you that. I used to be a decent sprinter when we still had sports at school. I long gave up running, even […]
Thomas Middle School: The “Best” of the Worst?
Submitted by John Arbeeny. Lakewood CARES will be providing an academically based response to schools highlighted in the Clover Park School District (CPSD) “#SuperSchoolShoutOut“ articles in The Suburban Times. This is data you will not find elsewhere in CPSD public relations pieces, Board meeting agendas or “Inside Schools”. This week’s CPSD “beaming with pride” article […]
Letter: The Frog Prince, A love Story, and What Really Happened
His eyes bulged, his lips were bulbous, and his chin – if it could be identified as that – drooped and dragged in the dirt as he occasionally, but very rarely, pushed himself along, the quite ugly toad’s much preferred preference being the lily pad upon which he now reclined, though how his overlarge body […]
So, You Think You’re Tough
Standing up for yourself is a combination of knowing when to fight and when to back off. I love to tell stories of when my parents owned a motel in Ponders Corner and I stood up to stare others down. I don’t like telling the story of standing up for myself, but it comes with […]
Across the Fence: Schadenfreude
You probably have heard this Germanism in the English language before: Schadenfreude (pronounce: shah-den-froy-duh, meaning glee bout damage). And probably hardly anybody is immune against it, unless they are saints. Though, allegedly, there are such people. Apparently, the term turned up in the German language around 1740, about a century later in the English language. […]
Letter: Those Three Words
‘Breaking News!’ So began the card accompanying the bouquet of daisies just delivered to her door. ‘Stars are no longer available to purchase in the name of the one you love. ‘We apologize for the consternation that will no doubt accompany this announcement but we must inform all lovers and star gazers that all constellations, all […]
Letter: “Ordinary No, Really Don’t Think So”
He couldn’t afford much by which to express his love for her. He wanted to buy her the most beautiful and the biggest bouquet from among the many offerings from the shop where the sweet scents and the fragrances of spring time filled his senses. Fringed petals as if created by pinking shears; nodding bell-shapes; […]