September 18 is Paul and Liz' 28th Wedding Anniversary. And I was so afraid they were both too young to take on the responsibilities that come with marriage. Guess they showed me!

    CONGRATULATIONS AND A HAPPY ANNIVERSARY PAUL AND ELIZABETH!

    They are both on vacation and I hope they are having fun. Liz has been working full time days and going to school several nights a week and Paul always has too many things going on at once. Of course, they might both be up on the roof doing the repairs of the damage caused when one of the big trees in their yard took off the corner of their house.....
    Paul told me they hoped to do some "small" trips from home... including one to Mt. Rainier to ride the steam train out of Elbe.

    The 9th was Ryan's 21st Birthday and I know it was a good one because he told me so! Ryan, Dave and Anne, John and Nan, and Grandpa Vern celebrated at Red Robin. (I was invited, but couldn't go as I was down flat with some rotten bug. My thoughts were with them, though)
     It's hard to believe how fast these grandkids of ours are growing up!

    Heather and Thomas' baby is due to arrive within the next few weeks. It can't be too soon for Heather, who says she has trouble working around the "bump' to do her artwork and everything else. I guess all of us Moms can identify with that.
     Hurry up, Kiddo! Make your entrance. We want to meet you

    For anyone who isn't in the know.. this will be the first great-grandkid for Vern and me.

    I was surprised and pleased to see an article with Amity Egge's by-line in the September issue of the Seattle Sun. Amity is Jeremy's friend. When she broke her arm roller-blading, her job went out the window. She told me she was looking for something in writing, as that had been her focus in school. She is very good at it.

    Hildy and Dan had a few days of vacation last week. They based themselves at Birch Bay, where they stayed in a condo and did some swimming, walking the beach, and had at least one beautiful trip to the place on the Mt. Baker road where there are magnificent views of both Baker and Mt. Shuksan.

    Suzie sent me some pictures of James B. Hamlin that had belonged to her mother, which brought back some memories of a very long time ago. When Florence started working at Green Lake State Bank in 1927 and during the time I worked there, 1934 - 1944, Mr. Hamlin was the Assistant Cashier. He was probably in his sixties when I knew him... a straight-backed, handsome old gentleman.
     Mr. Hamlin often called me "Alice". He was sure my sense of curiosity and thirst for adventure would land me down a rabbit hole and into Wonderland. That was only made more evident by his reaction when I bought my Model A Ford and my friend Margaret (Miggs) and I began our travels around the country.
     Mr. Hamlin presented me with a beautiful copy of the book "Alice in Wonderland", which I have given to Liz, knowing how much books mean to her.
     Thank you, Suzie. All these old memories are so welcome and so precious.

    Vern and I joined Paul, Liz, John, Nan, Hildy, Dan, and lots of other people from History House and the Fremont Chamber of Commerce for the Duck ride on the 18th of August. The Ducks are those amphibious things that are at home on land or on the water. We met in the History House courtyard and shared sandwiches and soda or beer with the two Duckloands of people who showed up. The Ducks picked us up, supplied us with raucous duck quackers and we were off for about an hour and a half of noisy, uninhibited travel through the streets of Fremont, into Ballard, thence into the canal and back past Fremont and the houseboats along the shore with loud-speakers blaring rock music, duck calls at full breath, mayhem aboard. Nan and I shared a seat and were so turned on by the music that we couldn't sit still so did our dancing from a sitting position. This led to some interesting sore spots the next day, but was fun at the time.

    Just writing about the Duck ride has tired me out, so that will be all for this time.

    Don't forget.... I'm the contact to get your news on the website for all the world to see. Now that's a sobering thought!

Love to you all
Dixie/Dorothea, Senior Editor