It was a deathly quiet time in downtown Tacoma. There were more vacant lots than people. The Tacoma Mall had lured away most of the shops and those left were struggling. In 1969, the Downtown Tacoma Association was created to promote and develop retail trade in the City of Tacoma. During the same time I […]
Tacoma
The Big One is Coming – Our Category 9 Earthquake
The program for the November meeting of the Transportation Club of Tacoma (www.transportationcluboftacoma.org) was Major General Bret D. Daugherty. The general is the commander of the Washington National Guard, including both the Washington Army National Guard and the Washington Air National Guard. His program concerned the need to prepare for the probable horrendous earthquake we […]
My Chrysler Memories
On my piano I have a model of a 1955 two-door hardtop Chrysler Imperial. It was the closest model I could find to one of my favorite cars, a 1955 Chrysler New Yorker two-door hardtop with its 331 cubic inch Hemi V8. When my wife Peggy and I got married, I was driving the classic […]
Look Out for Truckloads of All Electric Semis
My son, Del has a commercial drivers license. He has a local route. He loves the job. He picks up loads of everything from shoes to tires. He maneuvers though traffic on both the freeway and back roads and expertly parks any semi in some teeny tiny places. He talks to dispatchers and the workers […]
Thoughts Have Wings
I used to read the novels of Louis L’Amour. If a movie based on one of his books airs or replays on cable, I will usually watch it. Again. And again. Not only does L’Amour tell a good story, with interesting characters, but usually there is good advice tucked into his pages as well. For […]
One of the Last Trains to Centralia with Puget Sound Views
The last Amtrak passenger trains traveling with Nisqually Delta, the Narrows, Salmon Beach, Northern Pacific’s Point Defiance tunnel, and Vashon Island views will run on December 17th. Beginning on the 18th, passengers will board at the new Amtrak station at Freighthouse Square in downtown Tacoma. Departures and arrivals will use the new Bypass Route which […]
New Car Or Replace the Engine?
New cars aren’t getting any cheaper. Even with a new car warranty, high payments easily offset the value. A reliable used car, especially if it’s one that you’ve done maintenance and servicing on, may be a good candidate for an engine rebuild. If your five to ten year old car is in excellent condition except […]
Dirty Diapers and Winter Driving
In 1968 we were hoping to outlast the snow. We were warm and toasty with enough food, but with a toddler and a baby, we ran out of diapers, washcloths, dish towels, bath towels, handkerchiefs, and scarves. As young marrieds, each week Peg would visit her family or my family to wash clothes. The winter […]
Deaf Ears Still Need Communication
Amanda had a hearing disabled worker to place for employment. She called a potential employer, and was rebuffed. Jack said, “We’ve already got a deaf worker and she’s just not working out.” Disabled workers are as different from each other as you and I. Some are hard workers . . . and some need a […]