Odds and ends ... after three years here

Kathleen Anderson

The recent heatwave was tough on everyone, but especially so for seniors. Fans flew off shelves, ice cubes were placed in front of them, clothes were removed and sleep was spotty at best. But we got through it.

I have lived in Olympia only for the past three years but, so far, I have endured the worst snowstorm in 10 years and the biggest heatwave in 100 years. Can’t wait to see what comes next – land sharks? Attack of the mad leprechauns? Olympia, you are full of surprises!

Of course, not all surprises have been unpleasant. Most have been just the opposite. I have met some fascinating Olympians, Laceyites and Tumwaterians, been served by doggedly cheerful grocery clerks and delivery people and mentored by those wiser than I.

Because I am a member of the Olympia Host Lions Clubs and because they have outstanding speakers at their meetings, I have learned about the plans by the city for more social workers for the homeless.

I now know that oysters are planted, by volunteers, in the Sound, to help purify the water, under the guidance of Dan Mazur.

It is where I first met Dick Pust and heard about his six-year trek to bring his book to publication.

I know that the Thurston County Food Bank needs more volunteers to help unpack deliveries and pack bags of food to be handed out to those in need, that the Boys and Girls Club provided Christmas gifts for their kids through donations and that the Salvation Army feeds and clothes the needy.

And as of last week, both the South Sound Senior Center in Olympia and the Virgil S. Clarkson Senior Center in Lacey have reopened and also need more volunteers.

I have enjoyed the Tumwater Art Festival as well as their food and music. I even got to meet Tumwater Councilman Charlie Schneider, who, when I confessed I had not yet had the chance to explore Tumwater, offered to give me a personal tour of old Tumwater.

I toured the Lacey Veterans Hub and met some of the vets volunteering there. And of course, I have fallen madly in love with the Olympia Farmers Market. Before the pandemic I enjoyed browsing in the shops downtown, exploring the food co-op and other markets I had not been exposed to before my move here. Now I look forward to finding more treasures.

After living in Texas for a few years I had been convinced the best big grocery store in the whole world was H.E.B. Now I am not so sure – Fred Meyer is fast moving up on my list – largely due to their friendly and helpful staff.

But I also was very moved by the birthday wishes posted by Ralph’s Thriftway on their outside billboard, to the gentleman that had been one of their first customers when they opened their doors decades ago.

My neighbors have been the stuff legends are made of – clearing roadways when trees fell or snow piles up, rounding up cows that escaped when other neighbors were on vacation and returning dogs that meandered outside of their yards. We have get-togethers several times a year to celebrate holidays and catch up on life events.

All in all, I feel very blessed to have found you, Olympia. Can’t imagine spending my senior years anyplace else.

Kathleen Anderson writes this column each week from her home in Olympia.  Contact her at  kathleen@theJOLTnews.com or post your comment below.