The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

Dear Editor,

Seven years ago my wife, my dog and I retired to Dayton to escape the increasing chaos in the Tri-cities. I had seen the Salmon Bake posters in years past but never bothered to even read the fine print. (I can’t explain why.) This year a good friend convinced us (as in sold us tickets) to attend.

For the unknowing this event occurs annually as a fundraiser for the Waitsburg Lion’s Club. The proceeds go to help people in need in the local community. If you’ve never been, you don’t know what you missed. The food is all excellent and the portions are more than most can eat in one sitting. Over 1,000 people get fed in about two hours. The whole process performs like a highly tuned machine. Lines keep moving. The smell of salmon permeates the building.

The equally good part was the socializing. People were actually talking with lips and vocal cords moving as opposed to fingers tapping lighted glass slabs. People laughed out loud without acronyms or emojis to assist them. People hugged old friends with no fear of being called gay or lesbian or claiming sexual abuse.

No one wore guns or brandished Bowie knives. No TVs existed to watch the latest Trump/Rocket Man tweets. No ICE employee’s showed up to export people whose skin wasn’t quite white enough. There were no protests about anything .

Nope, this was a return to the America I wish we had again. People caring about other people and truly enjoying living in the Land of the Free.

To all the volunteers who helped make this wonderful event happen, my wife and I extend our heartfelt thanks. We hope to join you again next year.

Bob Robertus

Dayton

P.S. Our dog thought she died and went to puppy heaven because we saved a few salmon scraps for her. The smile she wore was the perfect end to a most enjoyable evening