I not only entirely agree with "Seattle (N)ice" (Feb. 13), but feel like shouting from the top of Mount Rainier: "See! It wasn't me! I knew it! And I knew I wasn't crazy! It's just this place!" (Something I've been saying in desperation to friends and family members via long distance phone calls for years.) Reading this article, I found myself laughing out loud in genuine amazement and agreement.

I transplanted to the Seattle area about nine years ago . . . most of my time of which has been spent utterly alone when between relationships (or working overtime because I had nothing better to do). I have lived in New York, L.A., among other places . . . and I have never had trouble making friends quickly. However, I have to agree — Seattle can be icy beyond the niceties. It's one of the few places I've lived that still feels like I'm "just visiting" or "here only temporarily." I continue to rent as opposed to really putting down roots and buying a home as a result of not really having felt as though this is where I truly belonged.

However, this last year, thanks to Space City Mixers and another singles' group, I have found a group of gal pals that I really like and enjoy a variety of activities with, from dinner parties to camping, etc. For the first time in nine years, Seattle is starting to feel like "it could be" home.

Julia Sommerfeld's article was an absolute tickler, and I very much enjoyed reading it. Her style is fresh with just the right amount of sass and humor. She really hit the nail on the head.

Debbie Kappl
Bellevue

Send up a prayer for the daphnes

I enjoyed your article about daphnes (Plant Life, "Sweet for All Seasons," Feb. 13). Until recently (last summer) I couldn't figure out why they had such a temperamental reputation, then D. burkwoodii 'Carol Mackie' up and quit on me. I doubt I'll try again with it though, too many plants and not enough garden! But my D. cneorums are still going strong (pray to the Greek gods).

Thanks for the article,

Brad Weldon
Point Roberts

Let restoration flow

Great article and photos in the cover story "The Queets" (Jan. 30). In a few paragraphs, Lynda Mapes explained how magnificent and complex the life story of this river is, and why it matters.

The scene on the cover, of elk and mammoth trees, is only four hours from our city. We are reminded that there were many more scenes like it in the Northwest less than 100 years ago. Let's hope the researchers' work that could benefit restoration of other rivers, will not be in vain.

Lisa Dekker
Seattle

The river's edge of reason

While that was a lovely ode to a natural river ("The Queets," Jan. 30), the permeating theme that the Queets should set a restoration pattern for our other rivers leaves me cold.

"A big river left to roam at will across its floodplain, the Queets undercuts its banks and devours old-growth trees, forms side channels and pools, floods."

I'm convinced that is the goal of King County with its critical areas package adoption — let nature take its course despite man. But even in Seattle there are productive, working river valleys right along with our rural valleys where our food is produced.

I hope those river researchers don't reach their goal of establishing the Queets as the pattern for restoration of our other rivers.

Maxine Keesling
Woodinville