This blog could be a rant over what has happened to Main Street Ballard. Alas, things were bad for months when the homeless encampment grew and grew in the commons and around the library. I don’t know how long that went on but it WAS shocking. when I happened upon it. Then a big HOORAY was heard not so long ago when I heard that the Commons had been cleared and an alternative site had been found for these unfortunate people. Yes – NIMBY !! Yesterday I saw that the Commons was enclosed by a big fence. And the area around the Library appear ed to be clear.

I proceeded to my bank across the street. What was going on?? The Bank door was propped open and a Security Guard from some agency was guarding the entrance. Well I negotiated my entry and conducted my banking business as planned. I exited (the private security guard was now standing inside looking at his cell phone). I proceeded to head down toward the main intersection of 54th and 22nd, gingerly avoiding 2 disturbed men. Buildings to the left and right were empty and some were boarded up. Not a good scene. Even Starbucks at the main junction was closed and being emptied. Alas! What was the name of that wonderful landmark restaurant that used to be there?

On I went, turning right headed for the Bookstore – The Secret Garden. I was a bit early at 10:45. I thought they opened at 10 but no now 11 A.M. seems to be the norm. En route I noticed that the U.S. Mail Box did not look inviting. – it wasn’t locked up but ……..graffiti etc. Anyhow I decided to get a coffee across the street from the defunct Starbucks. That went well until I needed to provide proof of vaccination in order to sit down and consume my coffee. Oh. I knew I had it with me so I stepped aside and conducted an exhaustive search – yes I had it! I sat down and a few minutes passed when I became aware of a person standing near my table and he……..no it was a female……try to get her very baggy overalls on. This went on for some minutes – eventually I saw her being evicted from the coffee shop.

Returning to the Secret Garden, I passed several more individuals who made me feel uncomfortable. Oh dear. I talked with one of the staff at The Secret Garden about the state of affairs on Main Street Ballard. She said that in the big sweep of the Commons most of the people had been accommodated elsewhere but a few had refused to leave. Alas. What do I say? What can be done about the few remaining disturbed people?? What is the answer? What are the social parameters?

I love shopping intThe Secret Garden and I hope they survive here in Ballard. And I include Annie’s as well. But my oh my. I left that area as quickly as I could and didn’t even dare walk by the Library.

The sun is shining and Katerina, my former cat, actually said hello to me – meow!

Memory care – that is what they call the section of the Era Living complex where we are living now. It’s a whole new experience in the life cycle. There are 2 of us in this unit who do not have significant memory issues (yet) but have chosen to live here with our spouses who do have memory issues. Happily we are neighbors. There are about 25 residents in total who live on this floor.

Today one of the residents has moved out – her memory issues were extreme and she was disturbing all the other residents with her behavior. She was a challenge to staff and residents alike. But much as I had been looking forward to her departure, I felt a tinge of sadness today for her and her family as I saw her belongings being carried out the door. None of her disturbing behavior was her fault. She was lonely and upset. This was not how she wanted to be as she was caught in the later stages of life’s cycle. So part of me feels relieved that she is gone. But I just hope her next care facility is better able to accommodate her particular needs.

That is what I am – a compulsive doer of jigsaw puzzles. Here is a sample of a puzzle in progress.

I wish I could show you my latest finished puzzle, completed this morning. It was an image of wildlife, aquatic and land based. I have not yet mastered converting my photos to computer screen images. That is the next problem to solve.

My cat held by a young me in the 1940’s. Note my U.S. Navy hat. My brother served in the U.S. Navy 1942 – 1946. I can’t remember that cat’s name. That’s my father’s handwriting below the photo..

If I Live to be 100 – That’s the title of a book I have just read. It was really a very interesting compilation of interviews with a series of Centenarians (100+ year olds). This book was a “New York Times Best Seller” when it was published 20 years ago. While I am not old enough to think along these lines – well, maybe I am. I remember my mother proudly saying she was going to live to be 100. This was when she was in her mid-80’s. Sadly that was not to be as the various problems of aging caught up with her when she was in her 89th year. I am not sure one has a choice – we sort of go along as best we can, having regular check-ups and having a healthy diet etc. Beyond that there is fate………….What lies in store? I wonder………

Where do I start to tell the tale of how I met the man with whom I am celebrating the 54th anniversary of our wedding?

A Sunday morning encounter on the balcony of the United Kenya Club in Nairobi Kenya? Followed by a walk downtown to the Post Office, an impromptu decision to view the Beatles film HELP, a stop for an alcoholic beverage on the terrace of the Norfolk Hotel, and a dash across the highway to return to the United Kenya Club in time for dinner. That was day 1 of a scenario that was to be repeated with numerous variations, extensions, and elaborations as we got to know Nairobi and the wider scene in Kenya and its East African sister nations Uganda and Tanzania. This went on for a year and a half until…………we were sitting on a sand dune on the island of Lamu within the sound of the Mullah’s Call to Prayer………..when my boy friend asked if I would like to be Mrs McKee. I of course mumbled YES. Three months later on February 10 1968 we were married by the Reverend Douglas Aitken in St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Nairobi. The reception was at the Norfolk Hotel and for our honeymoon we went to Nyeri and Treetops (where Princess Elizabeth became Queen) and the Mount Kenya Safari Club, where many of the rich and famous in the film world had stayed.

Pictures to follow