scoopricklund

Duel in the Desert

I am a huge Washington Husky fan. That’s not a surprise to anyone. I can thank my dear dad for that. It’s in my DNA. My earliest childhood memories of Saturday afternoons in the fall were listening to Husky football on the radio with my dad, watching the rare televised game together (on black-and-white TV),Continue reading “Duel in the Desert”

The tale of Two Queens

We mourn the loss of Queen Elizabeth. Her magnificent 70-year reign is over. Just two days after her passing, we celebrate “Queen Victoria,” who turns 66 today. I only mention the two in the same paragraph because they’re connected … at the neck. When Vicki turned 60, I planned a birthday party fit for aContinue reading “The tale of Two Queens”

Eyes in the sky

Doing a story on a fire lookout watchman has long been on my bucket list. I can now check that box. I have to say, though, this was not an easy story to do. First of all, only about a third of the state’s remaining 93 fire lookouts are staffed. I talked to several rangersContinue reading “Eyes in the sky”

Visiting the mecca of auto racing

To paraphrase the most interesting man in the Dos Equis beer commercial, “I don’t visit race tracks very often. But when I do, I kiss the bricks at the finish line of the Indy 500.” Full disclosure here. I’m not into motorsports. The last time I stepped near a racing oval was Skagit Speedway, inContinue reading “Visiting the mecca of auto racing”

Remembering you dad – on this day, and every day

As a college student in 1975 I once mailed a birthday card to my dad that he was to open on March 29, his birthday. There was just one problem. His birthday was a month later, on April 29. Years later, we joked about that. Better early than late, right dad? On this 29th dayContinue reading “Remembering you dad – on this day, and every day”

A trip to ‘the end of the world’

Until yesterday (March 9, 2022), I had never been to Pullman, Washington. I’m almost embarrassed to admit that. I’m 67 years old. I’m a native Washingtonian. My brother went to Washington State University, for crying out loud. My beloved Husky football team plays there every two years. It’s just that, for me, it was neverContinue reading “A trip to ‘the end of the world’”

Remembering a life well-lived

Early Bethany Covenanter Alice Van Liew Anderson had a story to tell – of God’s faithfulness and goodness, through the joys and tragedies of her long and full life Sometimes you meet people that just stand out. Alice Van Liew Anderson, to me, was one of those persons. Just a year before she died –Continue reading “Remembering a life well-lived”

Here today, gone to Maui

Vicki and I recently returned from a trip to Maui. We figured it was our sixth trip to the Hawaiian island. We took note of the new, much-improved rental car center upon our arrival at the airport in Kahului that wasn’t there when we last visited in 2019. That prompted me to exclaim: “I guessContinue reading “Here today, gone to Maui”

The story behind ‘the backstory’: Remembering David Virta

The Seattle Times’ Pacific NW magazine in October published my story on a collection of fall hikes. It was a nice, 12-page spread designed by the magazine’s art director, David Miller and edited by Bill Reader, the mag’s editor. “D-Mill” and I worked together at The Times for more than 30 years, Bill and IContinue reading “The story behind ‘the backstory’: Remembering David Virta”

Sign of the times: The 24-7 world of college football recruiting

The first of two national signing days for high-school football players has come and gone, and once again we’re reminded of the importance of college football recruiting. Each year, it seems, college football coaches are under ever more scrutiny for their ability to recruit – or not. Jimmy Lake’s lackluster 2021 and 2022 recruiting classesContinue reading “Sign of the times: The 24-7 world of college football recruiting”