My son was born at Evergreen, and grew up by Van Aalst Park. At Peter Kirk Park, he perfected his monkey bar skills, bought bubble gum, and once got to put a baseball through the return.

He got his library card at the downtown Kirkland branch when he was an infant, and the same women were there to smile at him every week, from stuffed animals and picture books through fractals and genetics.

When he was little, he fell and hit his head on the steps at Marina Bay Park. It was early, but someone was at The Slip and gave him ice. When he was bigger, he jumped off a dock into Lake Washington to help a friend in distress.

He sold Christmas trees with Kiwanis and bagels at Noah’s. He went to the sock hop at Peter Kirk Elementary, and the prom at International Community School.

And now, if enough of you, his community, vote to Approve Referendum 74, he could one day get married in Kirkland too.

Paul Backstrom, Kirkland