BANNER - Bellevue 2020
August 2024
The Journal of Dr. Richard L. Sleight

 


On Call Grandpa 

When the family drove past a new playground, grandpa was tapped to drive Charis and Valerie back there after church to check it out.

Nathanael and Cynthia wanted to go to a play at the UW and Grandma Helen wasn't feeling well, so grandpa spent the day and evening with his Sleight grandsons.  Jean and Joel planned to go to the same play the next night, so grandpa drove at 11:00 PM from Auburn to Berrydale and played with Galen all the next day.

The morning after the big thunderstorm crashed through western Washington on the 17th, a big cherry tree growing next to Jenkins Creek came down across Jean and Joel's yard and into Verl's yard on their east side.  On the 19th, my friend Verl (age 80) and I were out beginning to saw up the tree. (We often enjoy sharing about the Bible over the fence.)  On the 26th, Nancy drove me back south, Nancy to paint and me to do more chain sawing on the downed tree.

Also on the 19th, a professional exterminator stopped by to deal with a dangerous Bald Faced hornet nest in their front yard.

 
     
   
 

Fun at Kids Quest Children's Museum

Two adults can almost keep their eyes on five little ones. 

On the 2nd, Annie and I took her girls plus Galen and Isaac to Kids Quest in Bellevue.  I took Irene and the boys to the 3 and under room and it kept them occupied pretty well.

Nathanael helped Nancy with her construction projects in the basement, while Jean took Luna to a dog park.  Jonny and Reuben were at their Vacation Bible School with Cynthia.

While Nathanael was loading up the boys to drive home, a blue Tesla came down the street and turned around in the cul-de-sac.  Galen saw the car and when it drove away said, "Bye bye momma."  But she'd taken Luna home earlier.

       
       
 

The Harvest Continues

I learned how and why to deadhead lilies.  These have been a beautiful addition to the garden this year. 

Fruit smoothies this month included my own blackberries.  Thomas loved the blackberry shakes I made for  Valerie and him. 

I began picking tomatoes on the 8th.  And I have this nice Thai basil (right) but don't know what to do with it.

The peppers are doing fine but will not be ready to harvest until September.

Green onions grace omelets and salads, and the kids enjoy the Gravenstein apples.

 

The Dishers Visit

Grampy and Grammy arrived for a five day visit on Sunday the  4th.  I was south with the boys until late Monday night.

When they visit, the girls get all their attention.  Monday, they went to the Kids Quest Museum then up to Lake Stevens to visit the Pastricks.  On Tuesday, they went to the Bellevue Square kids play area.  Wednesday was a long fun day at the Wild Waves water park in Federal Way.

Charis's "new" bike was a gift from next door neighbors Mia and Coco.  Having little girls mean folks assume that hand-me-downs are always welcome. 
Charis certainly likes her bike and her smaller one has already been claimed by Valerie. 

On a second visit this month, Annie picked up Kim Disher at the train on Monday the 26th. Bob drove up from Dallas Oregon the next day.

On Wednesday the 28th, we all enjoyed the afternoon at the annual Seattle Christian School back-to-school barbecue.

Charis turned in her summer schoolwork notebook to Mrs. Alvarez, her Kindergarten teacher, and received a small prize.  She also won a Chick-fil-A toy cow, as did Valerie.

Charis got oriented to her 1st grade classroom and I took her picture with her teacher, Ms. Hopp. 

The family photo was taken in Annie's classroom.

   
 

Paris Olympics Conclude

For me, the highlight of the 2024 Summer Games was the incredible come from behind win in the 1500 meter run (3:27.65 Olympic record) by American and former University of Oregon star Cole Hocker.  Hocker was joined on the podium by fellow American Yared Nuguse, who took bronze, just .01 second behind defending World gold medalist Kerr.

As arch rivals Jakob Ingebrigtsen (Norway, 4th) and Josh Kerr (Great Britain, 2nd) eyed each other, they lost sight of Hocker. The 23-year-old from Indianapolis had to drop back when he couldn’t get through on the rail, tried again, found a lane, kicked to the front and raised his arms triumphantly at the finish.

I love to see a winning "kick."

 

Jean Stars in The Comedy of Errors at Lake Wilderness

The family enjoyed the Emerald Theatre production of The Comedy of Errors on the 10th.  Their six member cast pulled off the play with action and great humor.

As mentioned in June, Jean played Adriana, wife of Antipholus of Ephesus and a few other smaller parts. She even got to play her baritone uke at one point.

For my part, along with taking pictures, I kept a eye on Valerie, Galen, and Irene.

 

       

   

 

No Brag, Just Fact.  Sleight Brothers Made the News in Their Day

Friday night at the Everett AquaSox on the 16th, Randy and I enjoyed cheering a 6-4 win over the Tri-City Dust Devils.  We watched 19-year-old 2023 first-round draft pick Short Stop Colt Emerson go 3 for 4 with one walk. 

Randy enjoyed talking shop with LSAW Snohomish Chapter President Greg Brooks (left) and John Warren.  Randy is the Snohomish County Chapter Vice President this year.

What a special find Annie made, probably from the West Seattle Herald, as she went through Grandma Jean's papers. Here's the article of Randy's "Old Ossie" win as a 7th grader.  The Herald (11/8/1962, p 11) also reported on Randy's Ford Punt, Pass, & Kick win, including a photo of Dad and Randy.

A quick search of the West Seattle Herald also surfaced another surprise.  Don Sleight was described as a "well-qualified" instructor for the Fauntleroy YMCA Ski School in the Thursday, December 6, 1962 edition (p. 13).

(Only a select few years of the Herald are available online.)

 

 

Back-to-Back Potlucks

Saturday, August 17th began with the Whitman family reunion at the family compound on Vashon Island.  Grandpa Bobby was first cousin to Robert D. Rutherford who married Rheta Whitman.

I met Kyle Rutherford who was a student of mine at the UW.  And I spoke with Jeff Webster who is still very active in Bible translation work overseas. 

         



Just south up Marine View Drive after we got off the return ferry at Fauntleroy, we arrived at the annual P.E.O. summer picnic.

The Disher girls are always appreciated by the mostly-senior P.E.O. ladies.

Whereas the Whitman reunion featured grilled cheeseburgers and lots of other dishes and desserts, the P.E.O. picnic featured salads and sparkling water. 

I was pleased with how the group photo came out.

 
    
 


Nancy is My Age

We held Nancy's birthday party on Sunday the 18th instead of Wednesday the 21st.  Susan's home made it special again.

Except for Galen, who had the sniffles, all the other grandkids joined in the festivities. 

As usual, Julie Adams provided the cake. 

I was happy to learn form Richard and Alicia Pastrick that they were beginning to agree with me that their boys needed haircuts.  I was also happy to hear that an eye operation for Vivienne might rectify her crossed eyes.  A similar operation for sister Laurie when she was little was a great success.

Nancy seemed to enjoy her special day, but collapsed exhausted when we got home.

                   

 


On her actual birthday, Nancy slept over at the Sitte's and spent two days helping to paint the guest/new baby girl's room.  Jean's cake was not shy on its rich lemon flavor.

The hornet nest pictured above in their north yard seemed to be successfully neutralized, but little Galen managed to disturb a yellowjackets nest just as he was going down the big steps into the south yard.  I spotted the small hornets circling Galen and quickly understood his cries.  I was carrying Irene when I scooped up a wailing Galen and yelled for Valerie and Charis to run to the house.   He got three stings.  They were his first.  After treatment by Jean and Joel, Galen seemed to be over the sudden painful experience twenty minutes later.

Joel recently got the word from the vet that Luna is now considered a senior dog.  Big dogs have shorter lives.  Luna is a lot of work but provides a lot of love.

 


Jean had a
"Nesting" Party

On Saturday the 24th, we spent the day with the Sittes.  Jean had her "nesting" party from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM, and Joel followed that up with a movie party in the basement with his friends.

Nancy and I were there from 10:00 AM to 9:50 PM.  Nancy spent the day continuing to paint the east bedroom for the baby girl due soon.  Galen's room is similarly painted in light blue and dark blue.  Baby Girl Sitte's room is lavender and purple.

 

 

Annie was watching six of the seven grandchildren downstairs when I took the photo above left.

Four of Jean's bridesmaids were at the party.

While Nancy was painting all day, I was watching between one (Galen) and all seven grandkids for most of the day.  The rains that have come to our area toward the end of the month kept the kids in the basement.  Nathanael is hiding behind Isaac in the picture above right.

With a baby on the way, neighbors and friends have passed on a wide variety of baby furniture.

The big batch of lentil soup I cooked up for the party needed more salt and lacked the pepper and oregano in my recipe due to Cynthia's allergies.  I spiced up what we brought home.

Jean is still working on baby names and is welcoming suggestions. 

When it's "go time," I'm scheduled to stay with Galen, Luna, and the cats.  Once the new baby comes home, Nancy and I will trade places with Nancy staying for a week or so to help with the baby.

 

  

 

 
The Hand of Providence

Imagine a humble Scottish farmer named Fleming toiling away on his farm, when suddenly, piercing screams shatter the tranquility. Without a second thought, he abandons his tools and races towards the distress. What he finds is a child struggling in the swamp, trapped and drowning. With no hesitation, Fleming risks his own life, using a long branch to pull the child to safety.
 
The very next day, a luxurious car pulls up to Fleming's modest home. Out steps a distinguished gentleman—Randolph Churchill, the father of the boy Fleming saved. Churchill offers to repay the farmer's bravery with riches, but Fleming refuses, saying, "Saving someone is my duty; humanity has no price."
 
Just then, Fleming's own son appears at the door. Churchill, intrigued, asks, "Is this your son?" When Fleming proudly confirms, Churchill proposes an intriguing deal: if Fleming won't accept his money, he'll fund the boy’s education at the finest schools, ensuring he gets the same opportunities as Churchill's own child.
 
Fleming, realizing the chance to give his son a future he could never afford, gratefully accepts. His son goes on to attend St Mary's Medical School in London and becomes Sir Alexander Fleming, the inventor of penicillin.
 
But here’s where the story comes full circle: years later, it is penicillin that saves the life of Winston Churchill, Randolph’s son, who would become the Prime Minister of Britain twice.
 
Isn’t it fascinating how a single act of kindness can ripple through history, connecting lives in such unexpected ways?

Story found in numerous places on the Web.  No source sited.

 
Grandkids Corner
         
       
 

Who needs toys?  Just point them to a hole in the dirt.
   
     
     
 

Bits and Pieces

Back in 2007, Randy placed a survey monument near the northeast corner of our house.  This photo will make it easier for me to locate it in the future.
 
Valerie made me proud when I took her to the play area at Bellevue Square.  Rather than play all alone, she befriended young Aria, likely a two-year-old, and led her from place to place.  I spoke briefly with Aria's parents.  On multiple stroller walks, I took Valerie and Charis or Valerie and Irene together.  That is a real workout coming home uphill.
 
Velma Jean Moody's (Grandma Jean) high school yearbook, June 1939, was found during our ongoing basement cleaning.  Under "CLASS WILL" Jean said, "I will my ability to keep late hours to Elizabeth Hunt, and my love for the teachers to my brother Clyde."
Her previous school was Walla Walla and she said she planned to attend Willamette University.  She went by Jean, not Velma.

This is for granddaughter Jean.  The last autograph in Grandma Jean's 1936 Freshman year Walla Walla High School yearbook reads:   
             Dear Jean,
             When you get married I wish you luck, I wish you joy
             But most of all, I wish you a baby boy;
             When his hair begins to curl
             I also wish you a baby girl.
                                                        Your friend
                                                        Lorraine Lamments

Nancy finished constructing the shelves on her new walls in the basement workshop. 

What is it about Shadow and car seats?  Sadly, in her old age she is using the floor more often instead of using her litter box.
 
From my friend Wayne:
 
Being old is when you don't care where your spouse goes, just as long as you don't have to go too.
 
I want someone I can share my entire life with who will leave me alone most of the time.
 
My wife and I started role-playing in the bedroom. Her favorite is The Sexy Librarian
where I have to sit quietly while she reads a book.

My girlfriend says I'm cheap, so I took her out for orange juice and cookies.
It was quite exciting as she had never given blood before.

Major Robert Rutherford was in charge of the motor pool on the island from which Gregory "Pappy" Boyington's Black Sheep Squadron flew.  For his part, he also earned his US Marine Corps sharpshooter medals in both pistol and rifle.

"Boyington's squadron, flying from the island of Vella Lavella, offered to down a Japanese Zero for every baseball cap sent to them
by major league players in the World Series. They received 20 caps and shot down more than that number of enemy aircraft."
Note: Pappy Boyington graduated from the University of Washington in 1934.

At the request of Charis, I made a second Alphabet Picture Reading game. The first one is here and has the password block
The new one is here and has the password read.  Be sure to click on the faces of each grandkid on the new version.

My Quote from August   
UPC Day Camp Theme Song 2024
There’s a Party Goin’ On!
by Jim Fry
 
There’s a party going on.  It’s time to get excited.
Cause God’s gonna be there and we’re all invited.
There’s plenty for many and enough for all,
All we gotta a do is answer the call!
There’s a party going on and the happiness is
wall to wall.

Hey! There’s a party going on!
Everybody can come along!
The love of God is there to share,
The whole wide world is welcome there.
Hey! There’s a party going on!  
Matthew and the Publicans are good for a couple of laughs,
The Prodigal Son is coming back,
And he’s bringing his fatted calf.
We’re all invited so spread the word
around, around, around, around.
The woman at the well is on her way,
And she’s bringing everyone in town!

(Repeat 1st and 2nd verses together twice.)

There’s a party going on and the happiness is
wall to wall.
 
 

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