Al Peffley

The outside of Frederick's at Christmas was pure "magic' and great fantasy to a 5 to 9-year old. Our house was decorated with a fresh cut tree and all the trimmings. Going downtown was an adventure to see the latest fragrances for Mom and toys for lucky girls and boys. There was no Internet or Amazon. Burien had ample retail stores to shop for that special gift -- Bell's, the hobby shop on 152nd, the mens clothing stores with the latest European & British sports coats, Nordstroms downtown for shoes, and HOME TOWN delicatesens with holiday nuts, sausage and cheeses, the BURIEN Bakery with baked treats, Pharmacy stores with Russell Stover chocolates and Applets & Cotlets and Brown & Haley Mountain Bar and Almond Roca candies, and European kitchenware and fine china shops on The Eastide (small stores on Mercer Island & in Bellevue). The small neighborhood grocery stores sold vanilla ice cream "Snowballs" at Christmas time that were covered with shredded coconut and had a marzapan candy holly leaf decoration on top with red hot berries. My father sold fresh turkies and giant rib roasts to order at his meat market for the special holiday meal. Mom baked pies and Christmas cookies and bars filled with delightful fruit fillings. Mom made the best rum fruit cake in the family. Pure fun and bliss! We were in a different place and state of mind. You sang Christmas songs in grade school and did not worry about the fact that you were singing about the birth of Christ. Twas the season of glad tidings and good cheer to all people of good will. The Schwinn Bike Shop across from the County Fire Dept. station on 8th had great bikes and supplies. The Feed Store on 152nd had treats for the family pets and a few small farm animals we raised at various times. Burien was still "rural" in the 50's. Neighbors made time to visit and have a beverage of choice and holiday treats with friends and family.

HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS CLASSMATES! May your blessings be many and your joy & love overflow.

Bill Engelhardt

From Frederick's to the feed store.... you covered a lot of fond memories, Mr. Peffley.

Nice job! 

Virginia Wolfe (Scheffer)

Bill.......you also post very fond memories.  Thank you for that!

Gregg Wilson

I believe there was a principle at Highline whose last name was Fosberg. His father was Ted Fosberg. I worked with Ted for twenty years. I believe that Ted taught mathematics at Highline for awhile. He was certainly qualified, have a Ph. D. in Chemical Engineering. Does anyone know more about this?

Gregg

Ken Becker

Mike Fosberg was Highline’s principal a few years back  I googled him, and it appears he’s currently the  principal at Shorewood Elementary.  I think I saw Ted & wife shopping at QFC a week ago.  He must be getting close to 90!  Merry Christmas, to you and all the classmates  Ken

Gregg Wilson

Hi Ken,

Ted just turned 89. I visited at his home in early September. His home is on the south side of Three Tree Point. He is doing well.

I think there were a couple of our classmates who worked at Highline High School until about 2010.

Still can't believe I did not recognize who you were at RCC. But, I didn't.

Merry Christmas to all.

Ed Hesner

My wife & I had a fun Christmas this morning (at 7:00 A.M.) with our 9-year old son. I still remember how exciting it used to be Christmas morning when I was about that age. Three more days and he'll be 10 years old, and we'll have birthday cake and a few more presents. I hope you guys and gals are all having a wonderful Christmas with your families. Best of everything to all of you.

Ed

Al Peffley

Our youngest grandchild is now 12. Last year we spent Christmas with our daughter and son-in-law's family in Texas and got up at the crack of dawn on Christmas morning. This year we slept in until about 7:30 A.M.. We went to church on Christmas Eve and then went out to have Chinese food afterward (a family tradition). One son had to work today so we had the large holiday brunch gathering of the local family tribe members on Friday. The older we get, the family gatherings get more "creative" to accommodate adult and young adult schedules and needs. I was just discussing with friends that the shopping days for young children are now over for most of us --the joy of giving to youngsters has dimished ... Money is always popular for gifts to the college and high school tribe members. Gift cards are being phased out. We are slowly getting over the antisocial after effects of the human-engineered, COVID bio-attack paranoia and jab health scam. Life is good. God Bless His Eagle, America.

Bill Engelhardt

You made us laugh.....

Virginia Wolfe (Scheffer)

RIP....you made us cry with laughter!

Al Peffley

 Tommy: "And the pumases come out of the crevasses!"...   RIP Tom.

Bill Engelhardt

Virginia Wolfe (Scheffer)

Ha! We live on the East Coast. So actually stayed up until six your time.  Rabble Rousers we are!  Good Year to everyone no matter what time you are on.
 

Ken Becker

Bill Engelhardt

Al Peffley

Our Dawgs won over the Austin steers tonight! The final 2023 CFP season match will be the match of the canines, as it should be. Remember the 1993 Rose Bowl game on New Year's Day? It was a close game, just like this year's Sugar Bowl. it's time to switch the outcome in the NCAAF Chamionship game next week.

GO DAWGS!

1993 Rose Bowl results:

Washington

31

9-3

Michigan

Al Peffley

SUNDAY NEWSPAPER NOSTALGIA - Sorta before our time, but remember this cartoon character? What newspaper cartoon series was he featured in, what is his name, and what life "situation" was he famous for in our parents' generation? The character's creator had an interesting career in cartoon art graphics. USA WWII bombers displayed some of the cartoonist's female cartoon characters as nose art.  [Bill remembers...  ;o)]

Gregg Wilson

                                          Cosmology Religion

In the Beginning, there was nothing.

Absolutely nothing

And God said "Let there be light!"

And there was still absolutely nothing.

But now you could see it!

"The world is not flat, as it appears,but round, like a ball."

"Then what holds the world up?"

"The great god Atlas holds the world on his shoulders."

"But what does Atlas stand on?"

"He stands on a huge island."

"But on what does the island rest?"

"It rests on the back of a giant turtle."

"But  what........"

"No need to ask further. It's turtles

                                                       all

                                                            the 

                                                                   way

                                                                           down!"

Bill Engelhardt

Fourth Ave in 1951-- looking south near Pine Street. When folks "dressed up" to go downtown. 

Al Peffley

Pine Street in 2020, after the George Floyd travesty of justice, when racist radicals took over once peaceful Seattle streets and flourishing commerce sections of town. Then came the COVID-19 lockdowns to board up the once popular large and small retail businesses. Homeless tents began to line the streets with an out of control social and unsanitary environmental disaster... Political leadership turns a blind eye to the death throws of a once beautiful Emerald City on Puget Sound. People regretted buying an upscale condo downtown as real estate values began to tank and crime began to soar to new heights in the "CHAD and CHAZ/CHOP" areas of Seattle. The RESET Plan is cast and people begin to flee away from the alarming Seattle "changes".

Gregg Wilson

The Earth is spinning at 1,000 miles an hour. And the Earth is traveling at 66,000 miles per hour around the Sun. And the Sun is traveling at 390,000 miles per hour around the Milky Way Galaxy. And the Galaxy is traveling at 2.2 million miles an hour through the Universe.

And that is why, officer, I cannot walk in a straight line!

Linda Pompeo (Worden)

That's a good one Gregg....but can all of those facts be remembered if needed!

Al Peffley

Bill Engelhardt

Multnomah Falls, Oregon, on Wednesday.

Marty Ellison

Another sign of Global Warming