E D I T O R ’ S L E T T E R
So Much to Celebrate & Explore
After a year of enforced patience , there is a sense of relief at the return of schools , businesses , and travel plans long put on hold . I ’ ve noticed friends and strangers alike are reveling at simple niceties that would have previously been overlooked , or perhaps even scorned .
Just the other day my 18-month-old ran up and hugged the leg of a perfect stranger . We were at the dog park and I was ambitiously wrangling two feet and four paws , that latter of which is 111 pounds . The hug was an act that in 2020 would have sent the kind woman she accosted and me into a hand sanitizer spin drive . While there was some embarrassment on my part for a crazy
Mikaela Judd , Editor
toddler doing crazy toddler things , we both laughed . The lady smiled and said , “ With the year we ’ ve had , I ’ ll take it .” And we all went on our way , feeling a little lighter and brighter about the whole ordeal .
Are we quite ready to start hugging strangers ? I doubt it . Most businesses are still requiring masks and physical distancing ( even for those fully vaccinated ). But with the rapidly improving health of United States ’ residents , I can confidently say we ’ re all quite ready to celebrate — whether that ’ s exploring our region or recognizing a big milestone .
Kenmore Air , in particular , is celebrating its 75th anniversary . The company ’ s rich history is a tale of hard work and perseverance , two traits which rick takagi photo have held them in good stead as of late . Though the past year has indeed seen their operations shift , the core of the business remains the same ; it ’ s a place where both employees and passengers are treated like family — the Kenmore Air family . ( Learn more about Kenmore ’ s history on page 16 .)
A lust for adventure has always been part of Kenmore ’ s backbone . The nature of their small aircraft makes remote , outdoor excursions particularly exciting ; and something I ’ m thrilled to share with others .
As a child , my mom would always research our destinations . She ’ d find tidbits about a region ’ s history and share them as we explored . Understanding how a town or city was shaped by those before us helped me connect with and appreciate new places . You ’ ll find many such tidbits in one of this issue ’ s features which explores how a pig nearly sent the United States and Great Britain into war ( page 46 ). Pay particular attention to this article if you ’ re flying over the San Juan Islands . Remnants of the standoff can be seen along the shores and hillsides , where several of the soldiers ’ buildings have been preserved .
If you ’ re looking for an activity that ’ s a bit more hands-on and down in the muck , then take advantage of the region ’ s shellfish bounty ( page 34 ). A succulent treat , shellfish never tastes better than when it ’ s freshly harvested . And what better way to get it fresh than to harvest your own ?
So while the world hasn ’ t completely returned to ‘ normal ,’ it ’ s safe to say there ’ s plenty of reasons to celebrate and ways to do so . So cheers to pressing play on plans long ago paused . Here ’ s to a year filled with new experiences and interesting tidbits .