Washblog

Yes, it was a happy occasion.


The short children seemed unimpressed with J. P. and his sidekick "Gertrude", but the ones with gray hairs and love handles burbled with delight, jostling each other to get next to the pair for photos, videos, autographs and hugs. Many carried J.P. Patches pictures, coloring books, dolls, T-shirts, badges, and other memorabilia.

Caption contest? "My Dad is making a FOOL of himself, I hope my friends never see this picture."

This 51-year-old cub scout is my husband, standing next to J.P. for the first time in 45 years. The conversation went something like:
JP: Where ya been?
Cub Scout: I dunno, I thought you'd know where I been.
JP: I gotta talk to your parole officer.

Brian Johnston, who has written "J.P. Patches: Northwest Icon" introduced the semi-retired celebrities. J.P. modestly protested that the statue wasn't his idea and he felt a little funny promoting it.

Others pumped J.P.'s star status happily, though. Brian said many times at book signings people told him: "J.P. Patches saved my life." They grew up in an abusive household and the show was the one thing they could look forward to every day.

The TV show aired morning and evening weekdays and once on Saturday, he said, all those years, and they never used a script. "That's because we didn't know how to write," J.P. explained, "and Bob [Gertrude] didn't know how to read."

Greg Nickels related that after seeing the mountains and the J.P. Patches show, as a young'un newly arrived from Erie, Pennsylvania, "I knew I wasn't in Erie anymore."

"I hear you have tunnel vision," J.P. casually mentioned. The mayor looked startled and said: "I wasn't going to mention it, but...."

Don't let him bother you Mayor, I think you're all right!" squeaked Gertrude. "I didn't vote for you before, but I would the next time!!" Gertrude's falsetto came and went, probably a strain for a guy that age...

Brian said the Northwest chapter of the Academy of Television Arts paid for a lot of the statue, plus contributions from locals. Tully's is donating 20% of its profits on "J.P. Patches Day".

I remarked on J.P.'s deadpan delivery. If not for the clownish getup, he could be anyone's grampa with a droll sense of humor. My husband said he had always been like that.

Anyone here have a J.P. Patches story?