Last summer, I wrote my farewell “What’s Up With That?” column after taking a voluntary buyout from the paper. It was bittersweet for this old newshound. No more chatting up strangers for stories. No more sleepless nights worrying about missed typos.<\/p>\n
To celebrate, I did what any newly unemployed journalist would do: I made a beeline to Safeway for a box of wine. What better way to toast to 40 years on a reporter’s salary than with cut-rate cabernet.<\/p>\n
And then, of course, a classic “What’s Up With That?” moment hit me square in the face.<\/p>\n
There, in the parking lot, on a balmy day in August, was a silver Subaru Legacy GT wagon with a tall metal bobble Santa and three other festive figures bobbling atop its roof. A big yellow dog leaned out the side window, sniffing out the sights and sounds of the busy lot. Behind the wheel, a woman in a flamboyant butterfly-print blouse and glittering jewelry carried on an animated conversation with a passerby. She ruled the Safeway lot, perched in her 20-year-old Subaru.<\/p>\n
Sure, people deck out cars for Christmas, but usually not like this. And certainly not in August. I just had to know the backstory. Old habits die hard.<\/p>\n
But now I couldn’t just waltz up and flash my press pass. I had to do this as a regular nosy person.<\/p>\n
I approached the woman, who introduced herself as “Blue” (yes, Blue). I timidly explained that, as of 15 minutes ago, I was no longer a journalist and so I couldn’t bother people with questions anymore.<\/p>\n
She laughed.<\/p>\n
“Well, you can still bother people,” Blue said, with the confidence of someone who’s lived life unapologetically. “Don’t ever stop bothering people!”<\/p>\n
As it turned out, Blue had decorated the car’s roof during the busy Christmas shopping season of 2023 so she could easily spot it in a crowded parking lot.<\/p>\n
I get it. I’ve spent plenty of time wandering parking lots, hitting the panic button on my key fob, hoping my car would beep back before the cops showed up.<\/p>\n
Blue kept the decorations up year-round for the fun of it.<\/p>\n
“I do it for people to smile and think, ‘Well, isn’t that quirky?’” she said.<\/p>\n
Indeed, it was quirky. I’ve chased plenty of oddball stories in my day, but something about Blue — the sparkly personality, those bobbling figures, that big yellow dog — hit me in the feels. There was more to this story. I knew it, but I couldn’t pursue it.<\/p>\n
After grabbing my box of wine, I returned to find Blue and her magical car driving off, the metal figures swaying from the rooftop. I regretted letting her get away, but as they say on crime shows, I had no probable cause to hold her.<\/p>\n
And with that, I switched off my “What’s Up?” antenna. I also was free from the daily reporting grind. No more election stories. No more ferry fiascoes. No more four-hour Mukilteo City Council meetings (hallelujah!).<\/p>\n
Instead, I dove into the world of binge-watching “Law & Order.” The days flew by like a kid at summer camp, staying up late with s’mores at midnight by the glow of Benson and Stabler on the screen.<\/p>\n
For months, I resisted bothering people, despite Blue’s encouragement. I even avoided my inbox of well-wishes from readers. I promised myself I’d get to them next week, which turned into next month, then months.<\/p>\n
At one point, I considered sending out a Christmas letter written by an AI chatbot. I learned about AI as part of my new “displaced worker” skill set in my WorkSource training.<\/p>\n
AI bots can churn out more stories in seconds than I did in four decades, but they don’t serve drinks … yet. As a backup plan, I took a course for a state alcohol server permit.<\/p>\n
Displacement, funemployment, retirement — whatever you want to call it — had its perks. Aside from slumber parties with my grandkids, nothing kept me up at night or motivated me to get up before noon.<\/p>\n
On Safeway runs, I still kept an eye out for Blue’s silver Legacy GT. Just when I thought I was finally ready to close this chapter, the unexpected happened.<\/p>\n
Last week, Herald Managing Editor Mike Henneke asked if I’d be interested in writing a “What’s Up With That?” column once a month.<\/p>\n
Heck yeah!<\/p>\n
So, I’m heading back to Safeway for a celebratory box of wine. Blue, if you’re out there, I’ve got a drink with your name on it.<\/p>\n
And there’s plenty more cut-rate cabernet to go around. Got a story for “What’s Up With That?” Hit me up at reporterbrown@gmail.com <\/a>or 425-422-7598.<\/p>\n Top 5 most-read “What’s Up With That?” columns for 2024<\/strong><\/p>\n 1. “Sasquatch of Lake Stevens is as legendary as hometown hero Chris Pratt.” <\/a>Two mossy and mysterious figures in the woods of Lundeen Parkway turn heads and lighten up a gloomy day.<\/p>\n 2. “Why are there 24 Weber grills lined up on the highway to Stevens Pass?”<\/a> Just ask Jimmer De Groot. He expresses his love of grills through his art. And it’s now a bit of an obsession.<\/p>\n 3. “Galloping Gourmet’ celebrity chef Graham Kerr is a Stanwood newlywed<\/a>.” The 90-year-old world-famous TV celebrity chef dishes about love.<\/p>\n