After interviewing the local seniors for the past two years, I’ve made several discoveries –- for one thing, it’s not always easy to find those special people and its tough coming up with a believable approach.

After all, I’m a total stranger and with all of the scam artists lurking in the bushes, I can’t blame the seniors for squinting at me with a jaded eye.

I can imagine that they might have been thinking, “Yes, and after the interview you’re going to sell me some Amway” or “Sure, and during the interview you’re going to case the joint and send in your thugs later to clean me out.”

It probably takes me longer earning the trust of my interviewees and their families than actually performing the interview and writing it up!

The second thing is that a lot of seniors are too modest about what they’ve accomplished or the uniqueness of their lives. They’d feel funny about contacting me. After all, what would they say “Hi, I’m a very interesting person and I think you should feature me in your article?”

That’s just not going to happen, so I have to count on neighbors, friends and family to lead me to these pearls in our community.

All I ask is that you talk with them, first, and see if they wouldn’t mind if I interviewed them. After all, you know them and they’re more likely to trust you. Just tell them that I’m not going to try and sell them anything and I don’t know any thugs.

Of course, I can’t guarantee that I’ll interview everyone that’s suggested, but I would love to get a little help, so that I can spend more time interviewing and less time hunting them down.

Just provide their name, phone number and a little bit about why you think they’d make a good topic for a story and I’ll see what I can do to bring the honor due to them.

Please send your suggestions to: leeryan23@comcast.net or mail to Stringing the Pearls, c/o Eric Mathison, 14006 First Ave. S. Suite B, Burien WA 98168 or call 206-708-1378, Ext. 1855.