Karoake night at the Moose Lodge in Port Angeles meant something special to former Sequim residents Ken and Dorothy Lines.
Dorothy would accompany Ken to the stage as he took the microphone in his hand, looked into her eyes and began to sing.
To many, it was Ken’s way of expressing his affection to his wife of more than 40 years.
But there was much more than affection masked by the lyrics of Ken’s songs.
He knew he was losing his beloved wife to Alzheimer’s disease and he was telling her he would remain by her side.
“There are times now when she doesn’t recognize me,” Ken said. “But when I sing to her, it seems to have a soothing effect and she will look at me as if she remembers.”
It has been a difficult time for Ken, who said he has found therapeutic value in writing a novel — Life With Dorothy . . . A Love Story — journalizing the couple’s years together.
Ken’s book is an affectionate tribute to his life with Dorothy, which began in 1953 when they met at the Oak Bay Tennis Club in Victoria.
Details appear in today’s Peninsula Daily News. Click onto “Subscribe” to get your PDN delivered to your home or office.