By John Pierre

The Beacon

A few of us already know Bill (William H. Lindsay III). Hes the man with long gray hair, and a similarly long gray beard, who visits Edmonds waterfront just about every day of the year (winter and summer)wearing absolutely nothing but a pair of cut-off jeans. No shirt, no shoes, no nothing but his cut-offs.

I recall the day I saw him walk into Claires restaurant with shirt, shoes, long pantsand the various accessories. I was soastounded I said (in a loud voice), Hey, Bill! Thats the first time I ever saw you with your clothes on! Those in the waiting-to-be-seated crowd who werent laughing were frantically covering their childrens ears. Bill laughed.

One writer said he marches to a different drummer. I think its more like he marches to an entirely different orchestra. Bill, who is a 35 year, highly respected writer of repair manuals (his title is Publications Engineer) for Boeing, also tells all who will listen about his roof-top garden.

When he told me about his garden, I immediately pictured a flat roof with trellises and hedges awash with beautiful flowers along with the vegetables that he mentions. How wrong could I be?

His house has a hipped roof (for those who don't know, that means all surfaces are sloped) and on the very top he has many pots and containers positioned.

Flowers? I didn't see any in the photos he sent. Justcorn and green beans, squash and cucumbers, lettuce and turnips and other edibles. Nary a flower.

A person could pitch a tent up there (if he didnt mind spending the night rolling out of bed) and live for weeks on thevegetables growing in abundance.

When I see green stuff growing on my roof, I hire someone to come clean and treat the roof. Not ourBill; he fertilizes his.

I cant help but wonder if Bills neighbors are as enthusiastic about his roof-top garden as he is.

Different drummer? Nonsense! He marches to a different New York Philharmonic.