WITH FRIENDS & FAMILY

During the Christmas season, I’m not sure which is more ubiquitous: “What did you get for Christmas?”or “What did you give for Christmas?” Now, those of us who are into poo-pooing the commercialization of Christmas are apt to downplay the first and take note of the latter. Most of us have anxieties about either how little or how much we have spent on others and generally soothe ourselves that having a “Merry Christmas” is dependent on our generous attitude rather than whatever we gave or got for Christmas. This post is a different take on the significance of the presents we received when we were children. You are invited to dip into your memory and think about those early presents.

We left home shortly before 6:00PM for a family birthday party at the new harbor side restaurant, FISHERMAN JACK’S. Karl, Michelle, and Tanner joined us for a festive and elegant dining experience! the drinks and Chinese food were delicious, the tableware was elegant, and the decor was visually stunning!

Lorelie and I together with our many contributors welcome you to our first post notification in well over 4 months.  The current posts follow Lorelie’s July post, CELEBRATING SUMMER to  Lorelie’s  REMEMBERING SUMMER, to Lee’s SUMMER SAMPLER.

We did not plan this summer snooze. I’m an “oldie” 84 and just like our 85  “oldie” sail boat needing to be lifted out of the water twice this past summer. Freyja needed to have some leaks repaired and I required maintenance for two consecutive health issues that put the NESTER to sleep for many weeks. 

So, here we are in November with posts for me to boot up the computer, open the Word Press program, and offer delightful photographs taken by several talented and skilled photographers for you to enjoy and, perhaps, reflect on the good times from a summer filled with sunshine, daisies and blue skies.  Tim

Do join Lorelie and celebrate with her this perfect summer weather! Enjoy Lee’s patriotic photo themes and the examples of outdoor activities highlighted on cameras of all the contributing photographers reminding us of the wonders of summer!

Adventures in Alaska are often featured in the NESTER. Several of the Olson family have worked there, lived there, vacationed there or cruised the waters of Southeastern Alaska. Jerry and Keith share their memories of a “once in a lifetime cruise” on the MV Christian skippered by Jerry’s brother Ken. Read it and enjoy the trip!

Conjecture exists about how Arthur arrived in Olsons’ yard. Did he hitch a ride in someone’s car? Was he a stray? Did he follow one of the boys home? What Tim recalls is that on a pleasant September afternoon he was sitting in the yard reading T. H. White’s classic novel, THE ONCE AND FUTURE KING, when this ball of white fluff landed in his lap, put his paws on Tim’s chest and looked at him with his very crossed blue eyes. Within a week after a few futile attempts to find out where he belonged, the ball of fluff, now King Arthur, established his CAMELOT with us and we were now part of his COURT. 

My dear friend Elletta Kennison passed away last spring, but so many memories live on! She would have celebrated her 90th birthday on February 28, and I was privileged to know her for over forty of those years. My post offers a kaleidoscope of our experiences together.

Dear Jerry,

This post is rather long and you are under no obligation to read the whole thing and look at the pictures taken centuries ago. A birthday greeting has turned into a rambling narrative about four months of each year covering four years – our college years. Reminds me of when Lorelie’s dad would tell navy stories after dinner and after ten minutes or so someone would ask, “What is your point here?”  Fred would look a little puzzled and finally say, “My point being . . .” and pause.  That’s where I am and maybe you can help me out.  

Christmas of 2022 was filled with family gatherings at Karl’s and Michelle’s home in Everett. We joined their friends, other family members and animal companions on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, then enjoyed an outing to “Lights of Christmas” at Warm Beach. 

Many of us know the famous story about the “year without  a Santa Claus,” but, for the Olsons, this Christmas might have been the year without a golden retriever.  This Christmas, however, wasn’t an ending but was a beginning of a new adventure with Golden Retrievers.