People Of The Northwest: Cold, Uncaring, Rude

Editor, The Times:

I just read Alan Geoffrey's essay in The Times. I agree with him.

Seattle and Tacoma (where I live) are unfriendly places to live. I moved here in December 1970, through no choice of my own. After living here for 23 years, I have not developed a single close friendship. Not for lack of trying. At first I tried everything. I joined The Mountaineers. I joined a "Newcomers Club." I joined a local church. I taught in the public school system. I did all the usual inviting: dinners, parties. People simply did not reciprocate. Being politically active didn't help, either.

If you were not born here, raised here, brought up with certain established families and groups, then you simply do not belong here. At least I don't.

This whole issue was brought home again to me at my son's soccer game a few weeks ago. My 12-year-old son has been on the same team with the same coach for two years. I have attended every single game. Their last scheduled game was Dec. 19. Since this date was so close to Christmas and no end-of-the-year awards banquet had been scheduled, I called the soccer coach and made some inquiries about the final game and party. I spoke to the soccer coach's wife since he was not home. She said no plans had been discussed or finalized yet. I gave my work and home number to be sure I would be called. I never received a call.

At the soccer game the following week, the coach's wife went to every parent at the game and gave a handout concerning the end-of-the-year party. She gave one to the mother standing to the right of me and to the left of me. I was not included. Probably because I am the only divorced parent.

This example indicates to me my experience of living in the Northwest. The people are cold, uncaring, thoughtless, rude, narcissistic.

Disingenuous is not nearly strong enough to describe the Seattle/Tacoma quality of life. I fail to see or appreciate the beauty of this state's physical attributes when the mental climate is so completely closed. Katherine Finnigan Tacoma