Opinion
Cartoon by Scott Anthony
Guardian angel hitched a ride
While working at Boeing in 1943, I bought a 1933 Plymouth for $50. It was really beat up, rusting out and in need of motor work. But it steered more easily than my old Model A Ford. I drove it till the day my wife and I decided to have a picnic at Martha Lake, north of Seattle.
We had our firstborn son Michael in the front seat with us. Some friends were riding in the rumble seat.
Somewhat frustrated after getting lost trying to find the place, we were heading down a steep hill to the lake going about 35, when we hit a huge chuckhole.
We suddenly found our car veering off the road, while watching both front wheels roll down the road in front of us. As we headed helplessly for a ditch, we were absolutely out of control.
The car narrowly missed a phone pole and crashed head-on into a giant pile of brush workmen had cut and left for later disposal. Nobody had a scratch. The baby didn't even cry.
We were in momentary shock from our miraculous escape but then got out to assess our problem. The wooden spokes had broken out of the wheels (the rims and tires were what we had seen rolling down the hill) and the headlight glass was broken.
More ›Let's work to preserve, protect nature's trails
"Also in the planning stages is a proposed 16-mile long "Lake to Sound Trail," writes Times/News Editor Eric Mathison in his front-page story, "Can elms, bikes coexist on road?"
Sure, sometimes dangerously.
How safe do you feel passing a bicyclist near the edge of a narrow highway? Scary huh! One wrong move and a car/bike destroying "Wham, bang bust" is possible.
As to replanting trees along Des Moines Memorial Drive, hooray for Burien Councilmember Rose Clark efforts and supporters. Restore the beauty and sheltered feeling elm tree branches provided. Entering Des Moines was even more special under the umbrella of tree branches.
Editor Mathison also described several nature trails planned to connect to each other and widen local transportation options for the cities of Burien, Des Moines, Sea Tac and Renton.
Dan Brewer, Des Moines transportation engineer and assistant director of Planning and Public Works Department said, walking trails are becoming more in use, due in part to transportation's present negative conditions with price of gas and economy being major incentives.
More ›Police, a pooch, and the public
To be safe, how can we know when people or pets really are brewing up a hurricane force of hatred &/or mental instability?
Miss Katrina, my Shih Tzu is a social butterfly. I've gotta watch that little girl every time we're in public parks or she'll be rounding up a bunch of equally excited 4-legged friends in no time for one happy, "Let's play" roundup.
You see she's very smart, yet, kinda too trusting as well, believing most other dogs love her that much also. Innocence dealing with other pets, people and parks has its good, and not so good influences and opportunities.
Then there was Rosie, the Newfoundland dog that made news around the world at her death.
As adults we know the important roll pets play in our life, yet there seems to be a lack of understanding of our pets and what is going on in their thinking process. They can't speak English and we can't read their minds.
Today, some dogs, such as pit bulls, are trained to be mean and ornery, but not Rosie. Miss Katrina and I only met Rosie once in the park about 2 weeks before she was killed. We found her gentle, although cautious.
How can we really know when people or pets are safe or not?
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