First tattoo

To the editor:

It was in the mid-1990s, and I was living in the Gasworks Park marina. My sister, her husband and their two sons live in Wallingford, a few blocks away. The boys were Sean, about 4, and Christopher, about 5.

I was going on vacation to Mexico, and before I took off I explained to the boys I would not see them for a bit. They retired to their bedroom to discuss it. After a bit, they came back out.

Christopher had in his cupped hands all the money in the world the two of them owned. It was something like 95 cents.

The two very serious young men gave me all their earthly treasures and told me they wanted to buy me a Spiderman tattoo while I was in Mexico.

So I chipped in the extra $299.05 and got me a Mexican Spiderman tattoo.

Gerald Simonsen

Bainbridge Island

So selfish

To the editor:

Anti-vaxxers refusing to get the COVID-19 shot or wear a mask think they are defending their rights but in reality, they are selfish hypocrites.

Anti-vaxxers are hypocrites because they have already been vaccinated as children for polio, chickenpox, measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis B and whooping cough. And if they travel they have probably been vaccinated as adults for yellow fever, typhus, rabies, cholera and/or malaria. And even if they don’t travel they may have been vaccinated for flu and shingles.

I’m old enough to remember when polio was that terrible disease that left you paralyzed for life. I’m grateful my parents had no hesitation to give me the vaccine to save me from a compromised life. I’m also grateful for the COVID vaccine.

Anti-vaxxers are selfish because if they had been vaccinated the COVID epidemic in the U.S. would be almost over now. Instead, it keeps mutating in the unvaccinated and returns every few months in a more dangerous form. The unvaccinated are filling up hospital rooms, stressing out medical staff, delaying care for those whose ailments are not yet emergency status and are driving up medical costs for everyone. Yes, even the COVID vaccinated can get the disease but it is a milder version that doesn’t require expensive ventilators and longer-term care.

Anti-vaxxers also seem to be anti-mask. COVID is almost always spread via airborne droplets and can be spread by those who have no symptoms. So if you are wearing a mask and cough, sneeze, sing or even breathe you are stopping the spread to others. You are being kind to others and not just thinking of yourself. In my opinion, you wear a mask to protect others for 80% and to protect yourself for 20%.

Gary Pettersen

Bainbridge Island