Summertime Linda
I don’t remember exactly why our friend Michael named her “Linda-the-Pretty-One,” but I do remember the where and the when of it. We were over at the Courthouse in South Bend, under the rotunda and I was signing K is for Kidnapping the County Seat: The A-B-Cs of Early Government in Pacific County, Washington. It was 2004. Linda-the-Pretty-One was the nickname Michael coined for her when they were introduced that day and, for all the right reasons, the name stuck.
Linda lives in Seattle and had come for that book signing more in honor of our mutual friend Larry Weathers than for any other reason. Many of Larry’s friends and family members were there. The book had been a collaborative process by Larry and me and he had died suddenly a few months before its publication. He was 56. We were all still reeling.
It was Larry who introduced Linda to Nyel and me back in the 1990s. They had been ‘forever friends’ with ties going back to their childhood days in Raymond. Larry thought we would all get along famously. He was so right! Our friendship has grown and deepened over the years. Linda often spends time here in Oysterville; ditto us in Seattle with her. We know one another’s families, have shared joys and sorrows, and always, always wish that Larry were still here with us.
K is for Kidnapping the County Seat
Larry also had pet names for Linda – several, over time. Before we ever met her, he often referred to her as “Linda-of-Vashon” which was where she then lived, but in person he called her “Miss Linda.” She, too, had the nickname bug and called him “Lars of Willapa.” And, I often heard about but never met their friend Fred. “The party always started when Fred arrived,” Linda says. “We called him Club Fred.”
My friendship with Larry went back to 1978. We met through our mutual interest in the history of the area. At that time Pacific County actually had a paid staff position for a “Preservation Officer.” That was Larry. He also served as editor of the Sou’wester for years. Local history was his passion and he got everyone else into the act – me included!
Larry Weathers, 2000
I consider K is for Kidnapping one of the best books in my “Mrs. Stevens ABCs Series” mainly because of Larry’s contributions. He knew where all the bodies were buried, so to speak, and every topic we covered in the book seems more interesting than the last. I’m only sorry its sales haven’t been more lively. I imagine that people think the history of Pacific County must be pretty dull stuff. Wrong! If I ruled the world (or if I still taught in the Ocean Beach School District) the book would be required reading for every resident over the age of ten.
This weekend with Linda-the-Pretty-One promises to be a great one. We’ll do some tourist stuff beginning with a look around all the latest construction and deconstruction projects right here in Oysterville. (Did I mention that Larry used to call me “Oysterville Sydney” as if to distinguish me from all the other Sydneys he might know?) Then over to Tony Johnson’s book signing at the Maritime Museum and… tomorrow Jill Trenholm’s House Concert right here at home.
If you’re going across the bridge today be VERY careful. The bare spots on the road are slick and they got lots more snow than we did. We are staying put today. Have a grand time with your friend and stay safe!