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on Tuesday, January 15th, Jan Hughes said

WINTER WINDY WHIDBEY - The first indication there might be turbulence came on the long drop down Mukilteo Speedway to the ferry. I heard the sound of forced air around the window seal in the back seat of the commuter bus. "Can it be windy?" I said in surprise. I looked out into the 6:30 darkness to a churning bush and a swirling fir.

"What would a lightweight person do?" I wondered, as I planted hiking boots to the tarmac, leaning into the icy gale going up the hill from the ferry. The lower road echoed in an ensemble of wind instruments. There was almost a keening whoo through the long limbed bare maples. The firs farther down added a whish whish soughing in a lower register. Up and across the neighbor's lawn, rhododendrons tossed themselves to and fro, with a soft rustling, individual rill as each leaf whirled in the wind. Ah, but add the visual! A silver slice of melon moon silvered the corona of white cumulus that framed a blue velvet star studded night sky. I was silenced in admiration. Almost home now, to an accompaniment of light clacking clapping from the neighbor's single palm tree to survive last winter's storms.