Papa

 I am sad to announce that my son in law Stephen's grandfather Edwin Coon passed away this past weekend.  Known to me (as extended family) as Papa.  Shown above at Naomi and Stephen's wedding last summer.  91 in this picture, dancing with one of his daughters.  As Stephen told me yesterday "He completely lit up that dance floor.  He was the center!" That's his cane in his hand.  So social, he always wanted to talk and he remembered everybody right to the end.  I saw him twice  in the past two weeks; I was bringing pots of soup to help him and his daughters who were caring for him.

Godspeed Papa!

New lanterns

 

Check out my new lanterns.  I get very anxious when the power goes out and it's so dark.  I do have some small lighting thingies.  We were having some electrical problems the other day (probably to do with our microwave, James came by)  Looked like half of our lights would be off.  You can hardly buy anything at a store these days.  But I got the idea of going down to the hardware store and seeing if they had some lanterns.  I bought one and then another.  Who knew?  All those lanterns down at the hardware store.  I could buy more.  All the lanterns I want!

So now, when the power goes, I have those way cool lanterns.  The one on the left folds up.  My kind of retail therapy.

For the grandchildren...

 We have these events for our grandchildren.  If we let them participate.  That's why I put on the seder.  For Scoutie.  For my granddaughter so she attends and participates.  Because she will remember.

These are both pictures for 50th annivesary parties.

The first from 1996.  30 years ago.  We had a party for my in-laws for their 50th anniversary.  They did a war-time elopement so (they were 19!) so they never did have a wedding cake.  So we got one for them.  There they are cutting the cake.  Right close by, taking it all, in is 6 year old Naomi.  We didn't even know she was up there until we got the pictures back!  But she's fully engaged.

The second is from our own 50th anniversary party.  This past June.  Naomi and Stephen had ordered a cake for us, a duplicate of the cake we had.  We had ordered a floral topper for it and Dennis is gently putting it on the top.  Look who is right there.  5 year old Frankie who is not going to miss any of the action.

We do it for them....

Really big tree

In July, Dennis and I took a 4 day trip to the Olympic Peninsula.  Close by but hard to get to, in most places there's really one way through.  We spent one night at Westport, one at Lake Quinault and one in Sequim.  Much appreciation for places we hadn't been to, at least not for a long time.

Quite a few places boast the oldest tree.  Dennis is standing by one, off the road a mile or two.  Paved but big potholes.  Huge root ball, you can see this tree has been through the wars.  Dennis is trying to look up to see the top.

 

Melina graduating!

A picture from June.  Taken by her mom.  Great picture.  She's coming down from the stage.  She didn't know anything about graduation.

Melina graduates with an AA in accounting from North Seattle College (formerly Community College)  Great achievement!  She has been accepted into a bachelor's program in International Accounting at the same school.  She's quite excited about it.  A cohort of 30 but almost all online (too bad)

The graduation turned out to be a great event for her.  I convinced her; yes it would be boring and long but still worth it.  I got the cap and gown.  I told her about stoles, something that you wore with your gown.  For example, Suzie had a stole from being an athlete.  So she decided to buy a stole representing Cambodia to honor her other grandparents.  She was very happy with the whole thing.  It was at Hed-Ed (the basketball arena) at UW.  Together with the other two Seattle Colleges (South and Central)  Her family came up from Puyallup.  She made friends with the graduates she sat next to.  She liked all the speakers.  The Board Member said (out loud!) that they were dedicated to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.  Hardly any white people, it was great!

Afterwards I had (another) party.

Melina at the party receiving cards and gifts!  He aunt made the braided things.  She had no idea that she would receive money as a graduation gift.
 

Happy Birthday Ilana

 Tomorrow is Ilana's special birthday.  We celebrated it when she and her family were here in June.  We went to a Mexican restaurant near the university on the Ship Canal.  Her request!  My son in law made the cake.  We were also celebrating Danny's birthday.  He asked for their request.  Ilana said jam.  Danny said angel food cake.  So there it is.

We gathered at a small park area right on the ship canal and had the cake.  One of my many parties I gave at that time.

And above is an institutional picture marking a big award she got this year from ALA.  One of her many crazy haircuts.

Happy Birthday Ilana and Congratulations on your special award.

Cake at the anniversary party

 Here was the cake for our 50th anniversary party.  It's a duplicate of our original wedding cake.  Many thanks to Naomi and Steven who sponsored it.  From the same Everett bakery that they used for their wedding just over a year or so.  Looking at it now, the only thing differed was the part with the lacy part, the background was white.  Who cares?  It's a beautiful cake.  We also had flowers for the topper.

So pretty.  And tasted good too!

Snapshot of Anniversary Party

 We had a 50th anniversary party last month.  Over 50 people at a waterfront restaurant.  A brunch.  Here's a snapshot of the party in progress.  The buffet.  The water is to the right.  We didn't need any decorations because the site was so spectacular.  Everybody agreed that it was a great party.  To me, it was a blur.  Don't know if I talked to everybody.

I gave a little program about our own wedding and also about the ceremonial plates that I made.  About my great great grandparent's 50th anniversary in 1902 and the plate that they made.  The cousins were talking about that plate 120 years later.  So I'm hoping that that happns.

Melina's graduation

The group photo from Melina's graduation from North Seattle College in June.  The event was held at Hec Ed, the basketball arena at UW, we are in front of the entrance to the football stadium.

Melina's mom, her aunt and her family came (great!) and we took this group picture of both families.  Naomi, Stephen, Matt, Simon, Megan not there because of work/nap constraints.  But everybody else came, for which I was grateful.

So glad we took the picture BEFORE, after everybody just wanted to get out of there.  We had a party at our house afterwards.

Melina enjoyed the whole thing, the speakers, sitting with the other graduates, walking across the stage, the whole deal.  So glad she decided to do it. 

Special anniversary gift

I hope to have a better image.  This was a very special gift given to me by my daughter Naomi's mother in law Merry in honor of our 50th anniversary.  I know that Naomi worked on it too.  They love to craft together.  It's based on some special lace which was on my great grandmother's wedding dress.  I still have it and it's been involved in almost every wedding.

Then she puts pictures of all of our family at the bottom.  Yes, that's the dog Bowen at the end.  Also pictures of us, my sister and brother as well as some Dennis' family members.

It catches us now in 2026, a moment in time.  I need to write who everybody is on the back.  I know now, but like my place, decades from now, they won't know.

 

50th Anniversary party - big group

 The big family group at our 50th anniversary party last month.  Behind us is the water of the Sailish Sea.  I'm in the navy dress; Dennis in the tie.  Our four children with their spouses and their children.  My 4 grandchildren.  My oldest granddaughter is at the very left in the sea green dress.  Also including my brother and sister.

It's a group all right.  I was feeding many of these people most all the week.  There was hardly any room in the garbage can because of all the paper plates.

Having a large family means that you can generate a big picture like this.  Certainly I am grateful.

The S family

 Here is my daughter's family.  Taken during their recent trip here.  They went on a separate trip to the Olympic peninsula.  Taken in Sequim maybe.  They had a very good time and saw a lot of things.

Three grandchildren!

Just coming off of approx two weeks of visiting and parties.  Crazy number of parties I participated in, hosted bunches of them.  I wondered if *I* could get through it.  But I did.  So I'll share some pictures.  This shows three of my 4 grandchildren.  Frank, Simon and Scout.  The cousins love to see each other.  They're playing in Suzie and Megan's yard that has everything in it.  Shortly after this, they all had popsicles because, of course, we all have popsicles.  Frankie and Simon stayed with use along with their parents Ilana and Matt for, I don't know, 12 days?  And we all made it!!!

 

Frank graduates!

 Frank graduated from preschool yesterday.  He's planning to attend kindergarten in August.  All signed up and everything.  On the Friday before he participated in a fund-raising event for the local homeless shelter.  He and Ilana camped outside in a tent in solidarity.  Frank made it all night.  He and Ilana raised $1400.  He had his own event and worked; he raised a lot of that himself.  Takes after his mom Ilana who really likes to raise money.

Spring birthday beach

 Some weeks ago, we had a picnic at the beach for our family for the spring birthdays.  At Edmonds Beach, our go to beach.  First nice day in the spring and EVERYBODY was there.  Left to right: Scoutie, Megan, Suzie, Naomi, Stephen Jessica, Danny.  Puppy Millie in Danny's lap.  The water is the Salish Sea (or Puget Sound)  n the distance: Whidbey Island.  We had a reconstruction of the Civic Club Special and Stephen made a chocolate bundt cake.

It's nearly June.  We have Danny's birthday in June, also Scoutie.  We have our anniversary party and Melina's graduation, it never stops.

CBS

How can I influence them?  About the cancellation of Stephen Colbert and other CBS news issues.  I took CBS Radio News for granted.  I got an idea from one of the Substack based pundits I listen to.  Take a page from the Disney/Kimmel controversy.  Get them where it hurts, their advertisers.

So I watched 20 minutes or so from my local CBS affiliate (middle of the afternoon) and wrote down the advertisers.  I'm sending this letter:

Dear Power Swabs,

I saw your advertisement on KIRO 7 Seattle (A CBS affiliate) around 2:30 pm on May 22, 2026. 

I do not support CBS cancelling the Stephen Colbert show.  Nor do I support the changes made at 60 Minutes.

The best way to get through to the network is to notify the advertisers.

I will not purchase your product because you are advertising on CBS.

Sincerely,

------

Just putting it out into the universe

Save my van service!!

Save my van service!

I have been a loyal satisfied user of the Metro Flex fan service. I depend on it to get to the bus stop to get to the University of Washington.  Several times/week. In the Northshore area pictured above.  Especially notice the red 'Removed Areas'  That's where I live!  They are taking away my van service.  Starting next week.

The western boundary is 40th NE.  I would like them to change it to 35th NE.  Near me.  You cannot walk to 40th NE.  There's a big huge ridge between the streets.  None of the streets go through.

I've been complaining loud to Metro and to Lake Forest Park.

Help if you can!

 

Old ring/New ring

 

 I've been wearing this ring for over 50 years.  It's from Dennis' family but I don't know who (why not?).  Slightly before I got married I replaced some lapis with some jade.  Worn it ever since.  But lately I saw that the gold around the stone was wearing out and catching on things.  My jewelry person pointed out that the jade was cracked.  So time for something new given that it's our 50th anniversary.  Here's my new stone.  It's malachite with some striping.  I like it!

Our seder

 Bowen knows that the table is set real fancy.  He hopes that means that we will have company.  He LOVES company!  Especially family.  He is very fond of matzah and often there is plenty of matzah for dogs.  He doesn't know it but Melina has made a special cake just for him.

He's right!  Company comes!  I know, I know, the haggadot are not consistent and this causes a lot of merriment and confusion.  From far left around the table -- Melina, Chris, Dennis, Naomi (holding the seder plate), Stephen (the engineer, why doesn't this make sense?), Megan (obscured), Scoutie (age 3) and Suzie.  Scout finds the afikommen and then later had to hide it again and again for us to find.

Suzie and Megan make the matza ball soup, Stephen and Naomi make the hard boiled eggs and charoses.  Melina brings the dessert (including the dog cake).  We skip the main meal this year and nobody noticed.

Glad to do it.  I'm doing it for Scoutie...

Visit to Port Townsend

 Sunday before last Dennis and I went on a day trip.  Taking the dog.  We went to the Olympic Peninsula via ferry (oh the inconvenience!) going to drive around Hood Canal.  But once we got there, Dennis pointed out that it was likely to miles and miles of driving down narrow high speed tree-enclosed roads.

It was 42 degrees and raining.

So we changed the plan and went to Port Townsend instead.  Washington does not have many cute towns but Port Townsend is pretty attractive with a downtown with older buildings.  And lots of water views.

Picture is view from Chetzmoka Park.  Very cute, never been there.

We have a history with Port Townsend.  A while back, Dennis' parents decided to move to Port Townsend.  They live a ways away in a raw development, Cape George.  Beautiful view with a cutting wind to match.  They were always wanting us to come visit.  But it was a difficult reach.  At least 2 hours each way including that stress-inducing annoying ferry.  With 4 small children and not extra money for treats.  If we missed the ferry, it was sitting in the dark with 4 squirrely kids for 45 minutes or so.  We would be going with the usual ferry crowd which made it more likely to be a wait.  Reasonably fun when we got there, we could go down to the beach and mess with clams, etc.  However Dennis' mother's mental health was deteriorating and it got increasingly tougher.

But they were always on our case to come visit.  But it was SO much trouble.

So we thought "Port Townsend,oh yeah, we've done that a lot"  But when we got back, I started thinking, how long has it been?  So hard to sort out the chronology.  They moved here from California in reaction to my pregnancy with Ilana.  Naomi was born in 1989.  I do remember being there at Christmas when a pre-school Danny was very concerned that Santa (Ho ho) would come.  So conservatively 1990?  When did they move over here?  I remember them bring here when Susanna's team won the city tournament which was maybe 1995.  So, if we go with 1994, that would mean 32 years!  Even though it seemed recent, it's been over 30 years since we've been there!  A long long time.

I had no idea.