That one block in Ballard that still exists in my memories in Putz House form.
Paul had gone back East for college and had made a real success of himself as a lawyer. (he had even been mentioned in the New York Times a couple of times -back when that sort of thing meant something.) But then it was time to come home and keep an eye on his mother. His wife Linda was from New York and was very quick to tell you that she was from New York (though if pressed she would have to admit to mostly growing up on Long Island.) and that it was just so surprising at times what there was out here. “No Bloomingdales but thank goodness for catalogs.” Though she was the first to admit that the Frango milkshakes were better than anything she had ever had back home. When they bought this rather modern house, Paul’s wife was a little unsure at first but then she told herself, “At least we aren’t like those people way up on 125th who have a pool in their front yard.” Paul was just happy that they weren’t too far from the water, and he could drag the kids out there every weekend against their will for a walk.
Bruce and Christine spent a gorgeous three months in town for a short fellowship that Bruce was on. The weather was perfect, they loved the scenery, the people, and the opportunities. Christine -an artist was really taken with local native crafts. They went back home to Chicago where Bruce was on the tenure track at the university but one day in January he woke up and couldn’t face another god damn day of shoveling the car out of the drive and shouted, “THAT’S IT! We are leaving this hell hole.” He promptly applied for any position where snow wasn’t expected every winter and they came back to Seattle and moved into a slightly damp A-frame home. Yes the first winter there was a snow-storm that shut down the city for a week, and it was impossible to drive anywhere but Bruce found it kind of entertaining. Christine was able to abandon her office job and devote herself to art again. (and started a gallery that focused on Native Art.) They started a family (Cressida and Tamora -though Christine and Bruce still don’t know that Cressida has been going by Crissy since the first grade.) and live rather happily with their books, art, and grumpy ginger cat Hotspur who spends his days watching everyone with suspicion.
Arne Haugen taught Math at Ballard High School (also the Math Olympiad advisor -leading the kids to state twice) and had long been thought as your typical Norwegian-American bachelor. He saw his sister (who lived on Cleopatra with her family) every other Sunday for dinner, checked on his mom twice a week at the nursing home, and enjoyed fishing with a couple of friends. Then he met Steve Hirata -another local. Steve had gone up to Alaska to fish to earn money for college one year (he was supposed to become a Dentist like his Dad, and Grandfather) but found he liked fishing a lot more than teeth and kept at it. (his parents were disappointed at first -thankfully his sister became the dentist, and they all got inexpensive fish from him so much was forgiven.) Steve and Arne fell in love and set up house. Steve is gone part of the year fishing (which Steve says is good for the relationship as when they begin to get on each other’s nerves, off he goes.) and then Arne joins him during the Summer break. Their one major disagreements is about Christmas lights. Arne only likes white lights and Steve loves big colorful lights. They compromise. The tree gets white lights, the house gets the colorful lights.
Earl and Dorothy LOVE Christmas. Every year they look for a new lawn decoration to add to the collection. They love finding their tree at Chubby & Tubby. (They miss taking the kids with them, so now and then they kidnap one of their grand kids and take them on the adventure.) Earl drove for Metro for years so he knows a million short-cuts to any place in Seattle and yet those short-cuts always take longer. Dorothy is involved in every single organization and you will always find her at Yulefest encouraging you to buy more cookies. “You need some. For the kids. You don’t want them to starve.” They have lived in their brick house a million years and if you are ever invited in -ask to see the bar that Earl built in the basement. It was built with some glass bricks from a building in downtown Seattle that was going to be demolished and it is a thing to behold. Plus Earl makes a mean drink.
