A time to give thanks for Southeast living
In honor of Thanksgiving, I’d like to share a few things I’m thankful for. But in addition to the usual family, friends, health, home and food (not necessarily in that order), I’ll be giving thanks for things Southeast, some of which I’ve discovered since I became SE Living editor. Here goes:
• Costco is coming to Covington after all. I couldn’t be more excited about the ability to buy cheaper gas close to home. And those samples! I now know where my family can eat lunch every weekend.
• Construction on the Four Corners intersection in Maple Valley is finally done. It took 14 months, but it felt like 14 years. I can’t remember the last time going to Safeway or Dairy Queen was easy. Woo hoo!
• The Covington library reopens soon. I miss the staff, and I miss bumping in to people I know there. I love the Maple Valley Library - it’s a thing of beauty in that wooded setting - but it’s not my library. And Covington has a bigger selection of audiobooks, especially on CD.
• Valley 6 Drive-In (really 5 because one screen is kaput) is staying open at least one more year. It’s been “closing” for at least five years now, but the bulldozers haven’t shown up. I hope it stays open for 50 more years.
• The Pie Goddess in Enumclaw. Actually, I should curse her because it’s at least partly her fault that I can’t lose a few pounds. That Toll House pie makes me weep - literally, actually. It’s so yummy that I can’t stop eating it, but it’s so rich that eating a lot of it gives me a tummy ache.
• Soccer season is over. Today, in fact, is the end-of-the-season party. And while we were soaked watching many games last year, we have been lucky this year. It has rained during only two games, and even then it was only spitting.
• A new high-speed lift at Crystal Mountain will bring easy access to more of the mountain. This should mean fewer out-of-control snowboarders will plow into me as they will eagerly head for the new territory, which used to be part of the backcountry. (Of course, with this improvement come higher ticket prices, which I’m not thankful for.)
Next year, I can already tell I’ll have more to be thankful for. Construction at Southcenter mall should be finished, and parking will be readily available when I do my Christmas shopping. Both of our dogs will be house-trained. We’ll have done a home project or two. I hope.
Cindy Zetts: 253-234-8602 or czetts@seattletimes.com