Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF – Fri-Yay Good News

~ John W. Howell

Today’s good news story comes from my favorite source, The Good News Network.

– credit Enjoy Port Townsend

Dock Worker Brings Stranded Ferry Passengers Home: ‘You’re all staying at my house tonight.’

By Andy Corbley

When vacationers were trapped in a historic Washington town after ferries were canceled due to weather concerns, they feared they might have to sleep on the streets.

That’s when ferry terminal worker William Patterson invited all ten of them to stay at his house for the night.

It was in the early evening that 79-year-old Kip Goodwin and his wife from Hawaii had finished calling every hotel and Airbnb in the Olympic Peninsula’s Port Townsend—they were all fully booked for the summer holiday season.

Neither had they luck at the YMCA or Red Cross—even the campgrounds were unavailable. Fearfully looking at each other amid the sound of howling wind, Patterson interrupted their worrying to tell them they would all be staying with him and his wife, Arianna.

Nestled among the pines on the Admiralty Inlet, Port Townsend is serviced by the United States’ largest ferry network, but the Port Townsend-to-Coupeville route, which Goodwin and the others were hoping to take after a day trip to Port Townsend and Whidbey Island, was canceled after winds picked up. The ferries had to remain tied to their moorings.

All three round trips were canceled, starting at 6:45 pm and on to 9:00 pm.

Arianna Patterson joked with the Seattle Times that her husband always threatened he’d bring a “straggler” home one day. William called and asked if they could make space for the Goodwins.

“I said, ‘We have enough space for two, no big deal,’” Arianna said. “Then he called back and said, ‘We have eight or nine other people.’ I said, oh.”

Like the Goodwins, most of the passengers were over 60 years of age, so the Pattersons were just happy they could get the visitors out of the weather. At the home, there was space on the couch and an extra bed, but pretty quickly, people were on the floor, borrowing blankets that their hosts had from their time welcoming foster kids.

Early the next morning, William went out to the cafe he runs along with his work at the ferry terminal to make pastries and coffee for them all.

It was unbelievable,” said Fred Dente, 79, who lives in Langley and was visiting with his wife and their two friends from Hawaii. “It was the way humans should treat humans. In this day and age, it was exceptional.”

That morning was crisp and clear, and at 7:00 am, the ferries set sail.

The good news here is someone cared about the welfare of others. Today’s JohnKu asks a question about this situation. I hope you have a wonderful Weekend.

A Question by John W. Howell © 2023

Someone in trouble,

Do you help or turn away? . . .

Only you know which.

Unknown's avatar

Published by John W. Howell

I have been working in business for over forty years and now have the time to work in special areas of interest. My passion has always been to create compelling stories of fiction. I have authored six novels and am working on my Seventh. The first novel is still in manuscript form and being utilized as a door stop in the laundry room. The second is a contemporary fiction novel of 89,000 words and is complete and I am currently seeking a publisher. I also write poetry but have not had the guts to share any with anyone. The one time I read a piece to a person their only comment was, “it doesn’t rhyme.” I will continue to write and hopefully my blog, Fiction Favorites at www.johnwhowell.com will provide some entertainment and an interesting thought or two. I live in the Austin area with my wife Molly and an assortment of loving pets.

108 thoughts on “Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF – Fri-Yay Good News”

  18. Excellent story. If I’m going to get stranded, that’s the place to do it. Great question, John. I’d like to think that I would. I did help my new neighbor by keeping an eye on her house for two months until she finally moved from Chicago. But that was easy. 10 people Steve your house? They’d be welcome if they didn’t mind dog hair…

    Liked by 1 person

  20. What a lovely story, John. Love the humanity in it. There are times when I wonder if this is now the exception but the optimist in me thinks it’s only a matter of exposure by media rather than less caring on the part of people. I hope. 🤞🏼

    Liked by 1 person

  21. What a great kindness, John. Port Townsend is a wonderful little town, but I can understand how space was at a premium. It’s a small place. What a wonderful outcome no one will forget.

    Liked by 1 person

  25. I love your JohnKu, and I love the story that inspired it. What an amazing story that shares of “good Samaritans” in our present age. Fabulous post, John. Thank you for sharing something so uplifting!

    Liked by 1 person

  29. A wonderful happening, for sure. On top of it all, the Pattersons fostered children.
    To them goes the glory!
    Wonderful JohnKu. I like it when you put the questions to us.
    OX OX OX OX

    Liked by 1 person

      1. I like the answer, in certain situations, like the one here!
        I have put people up for a night or 2, on occasion.
        Thing is; it got me thinking about the multitude of homeless in Toronto.
        I think I told you, but one of them (sleeping on my step & blocking my door) threatened to kill me about 10 days ago.
        Honestly, no invitation for a bed here.
        Been having odd discussions with others about what to do.
        I know it’s a larger problem than a 1 or 2 night stay in an emergency situation, but they are sleeping in the streets. It is still an emergency.
        I give food and $ when I can, but it seems inadequate.
        Anyway, I had tofu and peanut butter for dinner, and it’s clouding my mind. Must be brain food!
        🤔X 😶‍🌫️X 😘X 🤗X

        Liked by 1 person

        2. Yes, any rush to judgement is not sound.

          So, we got a metal door on the back where the fire escape is. It was just for emergency exiting, but now I can come in that way, if need be.

          The hood I live in was always a bit…. seedy, but since Covid, the homeless population has exploded here.
          💓😊X 🤭X 🙃X 😬X💓

          Liked by 1 person

        4. Yes.
          Well, during the first lock down, homeless shelters were either closed, or limited in the number they could healthily take in.

          Many took to the parks to live in, and soon tent cities sprung up. The city sent out health workers to do tests, and put in portable toilets.
          Then, many lost work due to the lock downs. Those living on the edge financially, began pitching tents in parks, parkettes, vacant lots, grassy areas and on.

          Tent life became popular, and accepted by some residents/home owners.
          My hood had one major tent city (which still exists) and several tent towns (all shut down now)

          Then inflation set in. That combined with high rents in Toronto created more homeless.
          Although predominantly mentally ill and addict types, working poor families (many single mothers with children) became and are still becoming displaced.

          The latter are better at taking advantage of city programs like shelters and food banks.

          I can’t even begin to describe the “crackdown” on tent communities once the pandemic eased.
          It involved masses of social workers, medical professionals, programs to help, volunteers, job recruiters and on and on until we get to police removal.

          Many are resistant to help. They want to be left alone, and live in the city where they can beg and it’s an awful problem.

          What gets me is that Toronto is in the Top Ten cities in the world to live in.
          Where does that leave the world?
          🌎X 🌍X 🌏X 🌐X

          Like

        5. Goodness. Where does that leave the world indeed. The voters here got the issue of the homeless on the ballot and the city council was mandated to help them by building shelter and permanent homes. The city of course has been dragging it;s feet and I’m sure will get sued soon. 🌎X 🌍X 🌏X 🌐X

          Liked by 1 person

        6. Yeah, they want to build “affordable housing” for the homeless here. Dragging feet is putting it mildly.
          For the homeless who work, want to work, are not severely mentally ill or addicts; affordable housing works.
          There is a large section of homeless who can’t work, don’t want to work, don’t want part of any government offering (except for free needles and methadone) … they won’t even go to shelters in winter. They sleep on subway grates in the middle of roads, and sidewalks. Social workers are out there trying to get them into shelters, to not much avail.

          2 street art trips ago, I had to walk by a free needles place. I didn’t know it was there. It was daytime on a major street.
          There were at least 35 junkies all hitting up. They weren’t a threat to me, as they were all placated with their drug.
          Still, they were filthy, stinky, … dregs of society… in their own world and if it had been night when the drugs were wearing off, possibly dangerous.

          As 1 angry person said to me – I’m sick of paying for these people. They don’t want affordable, they want free with no strings and free drugs.
          I’ll spare you the rest of what is a very harsh pov and what should be done.

          It’s a problem with no 1 size fits all solution.
          Still, affordable housing is a great start for those who will benefit themselves and society.
          🌎X 🌍X 🌏X 🌐X

          Liked by 1 person

        7. Well the mandate even went so far as to supply so many free beds a night.The public is sick and tired of the so called hands off approach. The public wants these people off the streets and out of camps.The city government is full of privileged liberals who think being homeless is a right. Their thought process is cruel to the homeless and blind to the wishes of the people.🌎X 🌍X 🌏X 🌐X

          Liked by 1 person

  32. I’m SO late, John, but very, very glad I finally had a chance to stop by. What a wonderful post! So great to read something good for a change about the way people treat each other. Thank you for sharing, and here’s to seeing more and more stories like these in the news. They make us smile and give us hope! 😊❤️

    Liked by 1 person

  33. So true, John, but thankfully we have folks like you to help us enjoy the good stories. I appreciate your hunting them down, and they always bring a smile to my face, even when I’m having a less than stellar day. VERY appreciated! 😊😊😊

    Liked by 1 person

  34. Reblogged this on Filosofa's Word and commented:
    Every Wednesday I write a ‘good people’ post about people who are doing good things for people and the planet. Some are small, like the 5-year-old who took responsibility for recycling in his neighborhood, and some are big, like Mama Rosie who took an entire village of children under her wing, or Chef José Andrés and the World Central Kitchen who travel all over the world, most recently to Ukraine, to provide meals for people in need. This week, I’m going to send you over to blogging friend John Howell and let him tell you about a good people he came across recently! Thank you, John … I turn the floor over to you now …

    Liked by 1 person

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