Did you ever notice that when you are on a road trip and driving on a road that is new to you and you are going the speed limit of 40 mph, that everyone else passes you doing 50 or 60?

And did you ever notice that when it’s raining so hard the windshield wipers can’t really keep up that everyone else on the road thinks they should go 50 or 60 even if the weather says 45 mph is fast enough, especially with all the standing water on the road?

Yes, I was traveling at the end of last month and driving in all that rain. Didn’t see any accidents (and I’m happy), but I sure don’t know why.

Told my husband about my concerns and he said he thinks this speed thing happens when people are overly familiar with a road. Hmmm. Like our neighbors driving down Hood Canal or Twin Spits in Hansville, or even just down the Hansville Highway (either way). I think he’s right and maybe we should all slow down …weather or not. Couldn’t hurt.

OK, I’m done venting.

Did you hear that there is a big author event from 2-4 p.m. Dec. 6 at the Hansville Community Center? As some of you know, I lead a Memoir and Fiction Writing Group at HCC. Now, the big news: we have published an anthology. Sixteen writers contributed fiction stories, poems, essays and some memoirs too. We arranged this author event to allow these writers of the “Stories From the Hansville Writing Group 2015” and several other authors (such as A.C. Fuller, Mary Van Valkenberg, H.M. Jones, Betty Alder, Wendy Hinman, and the Hansville Historical Society), tell you about their books. You will be able to purchase a book from any of these authors.  How much better can it get?

And while I’m at it … Do you know about the Men’s Koffee Klatch at the Hansville store? Every morning — 7:30 a.m., Monday through Saturday — you can find local men gathered to drink coffee, talk, and maybe settle some world problems. At 10 a.m. on Tuesdays, the store hosts the Better Halves — doing the same thing. Everyone is welcome.

Some more events to remind you about is the Eglon Holiday Sale at 10 a.m. Dec. 5, the Hansville Holiday Home Tour on Dec. 12, and the Traditional Christmas Program at 7 p.m. Dec. 12.

Something in December for everyone, so what’s your excuse for just staying home? See you at the author event for sure, and maybe at the store or in Eglon.

If you see me, don’t forget to say hello and introduce yourself. Seems I just can’t know enough people.

— Donna Lee Anderson  writes Hansville Happenings for the Kingston Community News. Contact her at WellToldTales@aol.com.