Where did this darkness come from? 

I am amused at people who remark on the heavy rain of late fall and winter, as though they had never seen it before. 

And now Im doing it. Somehow, I had forgotten that some late November mornings are like someone forgot to raise the dimmer switch. 

Many of us spent a few months griping about the relative coolness of our alleged summer. But our Indian summer was perhaps much nicer than we gave it credit. Otherwise, why would this seem suddenly so dismal?

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Barbara Schwabs passing marks a certain closure of an era for me. My first memory of socializing in Cannon Beach was Herb and Barbara Schwabs holiday party which, I believe, coincided with Herbs birthday. My parents and the Schwabs were good friends. The Schwabs beach home was packed with well-wishers. I remember meeting Evelyn Georges on that occasion. It was my first encounter with Barbara Schwabs graciousness.

Cannon Beach has always, I suppose, relied upon its retired population for some measure of its civic leadership. Nonetheless, the town had a remarkable decade during which Schwab was its mayor. Subsequently Bud Kramer was a city councillor. Bud, who died Oct. 22, had been administrator of Multnomah County, Gov. Bob Straubs executive assistant and a vice president of Schnitzer Steel. Schwab had been the first chief judge of the Oregon Court of Appeals. 

Both Kramer and Schwab contributed to Cannon Beach and left it a better place.

Of course, Cannon Beach also gave those two men a unique opportunity. Moving there in retirement offered Schwab and Kramer an opportunity to use their talent and experience in a way that relatively few high-powered retired people enjoy.

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Going into an Apple  store opens the door to a retail encounter unlike any other. On Sunday afternoon, we walked into the packed Apple store inside Portlands Pioneer Place. Both my wife and I needed assistance with products. One identifies the customer service people by their red shirts. Once they isolate your problem, they set up a service appointment. In our case, there were mere 10- and 20-minute waits involved.

There is a type of computer geek who prefers to relate to the computer and really is not adept at human interaction. The delight in dealing with Apples people is that they are knowledgeable, friendly and social. And, yes, they deal with your computer problem.

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Isnt laughter the best tonic?

I am indebted to Don Porter for my exposure to Leslie Nielsen, who died Sunday. If you are in a funk, Nielsens comedies (Airport, the Police Squad series and Naked Gun series) are excellent mood lifters.

Dons wife Alice and I worked together at Willamette Week, and weve maintained a long family relationship. It is amusing to watch Alice cringe at Dons appreciation for Nielsens mastery of the lower comedic arts. Well be seeing the Porters in a couple weeks, and Im anticipating Dons photographic memory of Nielsens great lines.

S.A.F.