Ned Luce

Wow, I saw a news item last week about 99-year-old Marguerite Koller of Blue Bell, Pennsylvania who met her recently born 100th great-grandchild! 

If it were you, I suspect you might not look forward to getting birthday and Christmas gifts for each of the children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. 

Hello, Hallmark cards.

If I did the math right, Marguerite was 37 years old when locals Peter and Jeanne Joseph married. The Josephs’ anniversary was celebrated by a boisterous crowd in attendance at the Port Ludlow Yacht Club on a beautiful evening last Saturday. 

If you do the math right you realize both Marguerite’s and Jeanne’s achievements are legendary. Well, you would have to know Peter, and who doesn’t?

Continuing in the historic lane, I noted that last week was the annual Monterey Car Week. This special automotive week is full of exciting events, auto shows, rallies, concours, and car auctions. 

Most of the cars I saw in the sparse TV coverage were actually younger than Marguerite. However, there were a few older. 

On the news program when I first heard about Marguerite, she seemed in pretty good shape, but it would be difficult to conclude she would have had as much tender loving care as some of those cars. 

A 1977 Pontiac Trans AM was sold at one auction for $400,000. It had 45 years and 14, yes 14, miles on it while Marguerite had 99 years and 11 children. I suspect that even though Marguerite probably had more miles, she was much more valuable. 

I am reminded of an observation attributed to C.S. Lewis: “We must recognize that, as we grow older, we become like old cars – more and more repairs and replacements are necessary.” I submit that both we and the cars can become more valuable. Or, maybe that’s wishful thinking on my part as a recent recipient of a new hip!   

Twenty of “The Adorables” met over lunch last week to start preparing for their annual performance at the LMC Talent Show next February. 

What, you don’t have it on your calendar yet? I do not believe that any of “The Adorables” have 100 great-grandchildren. Yet. However, I suspect there may be more than a baseball team of grandchildren.

We headed to “El Molcajete” for a margarita in honor of Marguerite (not really), last Friday. 

The restaurant has music on the patio most Friday evenings and Friday was no exception. Tess Teel was the talented singer providing renditions of many songs as old as I am but few as old as Marguerite. Friends Bob and Linda Shaw were already seated at a table for four and they invited us to join them. The music, food, company, and weather were perfect for some Mexican food at the end of a warm day. 

Last week there were multiple reports of potential sightings of the Aurora Borealis, the “Northern Lights.” I can confirm that I went looking for them off our deck for several nights. 

I went out about 10 p.m. which may have been too early but I was hopeful. Reports I have seen from across the northern USA indicate the sightings were not as dramatic or plentiful as folks thought might happen. I fell obligated to note that the Aurora Borealis is actually older than Marguerite. 

Friends, please realize that when you’re 20, you care what everyone thinks. When you’re 40, you stop caring what everyone thinks. When you’re 60, you realize no one was ever thinking about you in the first place. 

However, when you have 100 great-grandchildren the whole world thinks about you! 

Love a curmudgeon and have a great week. 

(Ned Luce is a retired IBM executive and Port Ludlow resident. He spent 20 minutes looking for the Northern Lights, but another 45 looking for his binoculars. Email Ned at ned@ptleader.com.)