A Woman I admire

 My Christmas routines have changed over the years. I imagine most people are finding theirs are different too.  I used to send a ton of Christmas cards. That was when postage was manageable.  I enjoyed choosing what cards I was going to buy that year and I liked writing my Christmas letter. I took a lot of time with that letter and it was full of all the accomplishments of my gifted children. haha  

With the emergence of computers, email, and Facebook, it seemed kind of silly to talk about things I'd already shared. Then too, the kids grew up and moved on and my letters ended up discussing what books I was reading, tv shows I couldn't stand or loved, and how I was still struggling to lose weight and/or quit smoking. 

I always looked forward to those cards where I knew the lady of the house (it was never a guy) was taking the time to write a full page letter telling the events of the past year. Favorite authors included Kris Logue, my cousin, Susie, Mary Gaboury, and Sue Peterson, a friend in Minnesota.

In later years, I started getting really great letters from Alyce Hansen who lives out in Port Ludlow. I met her in 1979 when I went to work at the local paper mill in the office.  She was secretary to the mill manager and she was always knitting on her coffee breaks, sitting there patiently while a few of us puffed on cigarettes.  I know. Shame on us!

I've kept in touch with Alyce over the years and I admire her energy and bravery of facing the world headon.  After she retired from the mill, she was in a walking group and those oldtimers walked everywhere!  I could still get out and walk myself then, must have been the 1990s. When I heard she led her group to walk across the Hood Canal Bridge, I decided I wanted to do that too. They parked on one side and only walked one-way. I figured I could do that.  Well, guess what.  It was longer than I realized and my little hike never materialized.

Alyce was widowed in 2003 but that hasn't stopped her from traveling the world. Four years ago, the Leader ran a story on her with this headline:

Port Ludlow woman, 92, bowls in 50th women's championship tourney

The United States Bowling Congress Women’s Championships is all about having a good time while competing on the biggest stage in women’s bowling, and Alyce Hansen of Port Ludlow threw quite a …...

Here's some of the photos in my collection of Alyce busy at living life.

Alyce is 3rd from left and her husband, Gene stands behind her. This was a pin dinner for the mill.

Alyce volunteers at a fair in Sequim and she used to housesit at the lighthouse too.

She organized all the retirement lunches at the Roadhouse. She poses here with Jack Caldwell

She even came to my book signing at Ruth Kvinsland's house several years ago.

Alyce served Mary, Joanne, and me fresh blackberry cobbler ala mode on her deck last summer.

My Christmas letter from her came today and as usual, it was interesting. I typed it up as I thought it was worth sharing. At 96, she's a ball of fire.

She wrote:

Reminiscence 2020 and Happy Holidays!

What a good year to remember the good ole days of going out to cut the Christmas tree and decorating it with hand-picked rosehips and some round white berries which my sister and I picked on Christmas eve. Added to that were small medal candle holder that held small twisted candles, which were lit only once on Christmas morning, while Dad read a passage from the Bible and after Santa had left his packages under our tree. Candles out and opening presents was followed by a hearty breakfast and a pleasant day including a walk to Grandpa and Grandma’s adjoining farm. Good memories.

Another pleasant memory is all the books my family read while sitting around the dining room table. In the evening after dinner and my dad milking the cows, my sister or I would run the separator to separate the milk from the cream, then Dad had a chance to wash up and my school teacher Mom would get the family seated around the dining table, with Aladdin kerosene lamp in the middle, and our evening was set –one chapter at a time. It seemed like I had to read the longest – of course, I was the worst reader! But it was fun. We didn’t have electricity until REA then a freezer was my mom’s greatest joy for all the great vegetables that Dad grew.

I got to go with the Sequim Senior Center to Egypt and was going to Jordan but it was cancelled. Most exciting was a sandstorm that was thick enough you couldn’t see someone a cow’s length away. Soon after I got home saw Laura MacKenzie’s travel program on Jordan so I did get to see some of it and I got a full refund for the portion cancelled. Delightful flight from Seattle to Dubai (14 hours) then 2 hr flight Dubai to Cairo in a plane with two crews, they served 3 meals each way. Emirates, Boeing 737-300 E.

I completed a number of knitting projects while I held the cat and looked out the window. Hope all is well with you and yours.

Alyce ‘n Tigger, the cat