Clare Booth Luce made this observation in her catty satires on New York society, but PATRICIA CHAPIN WALLACE of Oak Harbor would disagree.
The energetic woman in her 80s moved here with her late husband 25 years ago. “People were so good and helpful,” she recalled. “We felt immediately that more than the place, it was the people that made the difference. They made us feel welcome.”
A recent incident confirmed her belief that most people are basically good-hearted, especially a husband and wife who came to her rescue.
“It was raining buckets when I came out of the Dollar Tree, so I stood under the awning by the front door,” Patricia said, no doubt looking perplexed.
Before long, a woman appeared and offered to take her things to her car. “Let me have your keys,” said JOY SCHWEHN, to which Patricia responded, “I can’t. They’re locked in the car.”
Without further discussion, Joy showed Patricia to her car for the short trip to get her car keys. They hadn’t gone very far when a terrible noise erupted under the car. Joy pulled over and called her personal mechanic, husband RICH.
He squeezed under the car on a dry blanket he brought with him. A closer look told him the problem could be fixed easily enough, but Joy’s car would need to be towed. They all piled into his vehicle, took Patricia home and dropped off her packages. She grabbed a second set of car keys and they went back to where it all started.
Now the Schwens never expected to be rewarded, so when Patricia offered them a small token of her thanks, they graciously refused it. She had the last word, however, when she sent them a gift certificate to the Dollar Tree.
Sweethearts in love and war …
The Bellingham Heritage Flight Museum open house on Saturday, Feb. 17 from noon to 4 p.m. will be dedicated to “Sweethearts in Love and War.”
Take a close look at the collection of flying World War II and Korean War aircraft, including a P-51 Mustang, Douglas Skyraider, North American T-6, Fairchild PT-19, Boeing Stearman, L-13 Grasshopper, North American SNJ-4, Bell M*A*S*H Helicopter, L-19 Bird Dog, O-2 Skymaster and L-39 Albatross.
If you go, the museum asks that you take a few minutes to write up a brief history of your wartime aviation experience.
Maj. Gen. William Anders, an Apollo 8 astronaut, founded the museum in 1996. It is a non-profit, 501(C)(3) organization dedicated to the preservation and flying of historic military aircraft, and to keeping their rich history alive through public education.
The museum is open on the third Saturday of each month from noon to 4 p.m. Visit its website at www.heritageflight.org. Take I-5 Exit 258. Follow signs to the Bellingham International Airport. HFM is located at 2000 W. Bakerview on the south end of the air field. Admission is by donation.
How good is your chili?
If it’s a winner, bring a crock-pot of the concoction to share with guests at the VFW Whitehall-Muzzall Post at 3037 North Goldie Road on Friday, Feb. 23. First, second and third place winners get cash prizes. A “People’s Choice” will be named after judging.
The VFW Post 7392 Ladies Auxiliary is sponsoring the fund-raiser so they can continue helping veterans.
Come hungry at 5:30 p.m.; judging begins at 6 p.m. Tickets are $5. Hot dogs will be available if you are still hungry. Call 675-4048 to register your submission or visit www.vfw
post7392.org.
Why not steamed?
Once upon a time, every kid wanted an Easy-Bake Oven. These must-have toys have been around since 1963.
Hasbro announced they are recalling 985,000 of them because some children got their fingers caught in the door and some got burned. (It’s an oven, for crying out loud!)
The toy oven suggests a menu of French fries and pizza; I’d like to see them add a steamer to the redesign.
Kids who eat fresh vegetables grow up to be slimmer adults, but converting them from fried food to steamed Swiss chard will take some doing. Not in my lifetime.
Yes, he’s back!
A Las Vegas ad campaign claims “We Have It All.” Well, they don’t have BILL BULPIN anymore.
We missed our favorite pharmacist when he left to join Walgreen’s there a few months ago, but now he’s back behind the counter at Island Drug and can’t stop smiling.
Sorry, Vegas. You lose.
Everybody has a story to tell. Why not share it with our readers? Call me at 675-6611 or write to lifeonwhidbey@yahoo.com.
