From the internet, I am informed that “This too shall pass” is a proverb from the medieval Levent, now known as Turkey, around 1200 AD. The proverb means that all material conditions, whether good or bad are transient. Supposedly this proverb has the ability to make the happy person sad and the sad person happy when they realize that both the “best and worst of times” will soon pass. Sounds pretty influential to me.

The fact is that the proverb clearly and accurately describes the weather just about anywhere. We love to tell folks that if you don’t like the weather now just wait an hour or so and it will be different, probably. In addition, the proverb describes so much of life. Shoot, it even accurately describes life!

For the fifteen years we have lived here in Port Ludlow we have seen Doctor David Schores at the Port Hadlock Vision Clinic for eye health examinations and glasses. Unfortunately, his “vision” for the future reveals more time with his family including his grandchildren. A recent announcement from the clinic notes that they will be closing effective May 31 when Dr. Schores retires after an “illustrious career spanning forty years." I really liked the guy so I can envision “illustrious." He probably had an art career I did not see in him. Best of luck, David. We will miss seeing you but, as they say, “this too shall pass.”

There are so many things that will pass in our lifetimes. The NCAA basketball tournaments have passed. Women’s NCAA basketball dominated the news, even outdrawing the men’s TV viewership. This year the men’s tournament seemed to not have the characters we may have had in the past. Where was Duke’s Christian Laettner stomping on his opponent’s chest when he was on the floor? At least we were reminded of Christian’s teammate Bobby Hurley since his brother Dan was the men’s tournament winning coach of the University of Connecticut Huskies. I have lived long enough to appreciate a lot of history in college basketball going from the Ohio State Buckeyes and Jerry Lucas in the 1950s to John Wooden’s UCLA Bruins in the 1960s to the storied history of the Kentucky Wildcats and the Duke Blue Devils. All that has passed. Will it return? Caitlin Clark is the new catalyst for excitement in college basketball. Now that she is going to play in the WNBA, will that excitement and enthusiasm for women’s college basketball pass also in favor of Pickle Ball Tournaments?

As I noted in a previous column, I filled out a bracket for the men’s basketball tournament in a group that includes the rest of my family, all ten of us. I fought my way to third place immediately behind a grandson and daughter-in-law who may have actually spent less time than I did filling out the ESPN form. And I didn’t spend much time at all. I suspect my “bracketology” skills will also pass, as if I ever had them.

And then, it seems like there many things that don’t seem to pass soon enough to make us happy even though we wish they would quickly move on to oblivion. Take the current political climate and characters. Please. Frankly, you can have it all from lawsuits involving the pool in Port Townsend to the cesspool of running for President of the US. Please, can this too pass?

Love a curmudgeon and have a great week! Like this column, it too shall pass.

ned@ptleader.com