When I moved to Colorado a little more than five years ago, I promised coaches Russ Brazill and Kevin Ross I would come back to run a lap on the new high school track, if it ever got built.

Five years after I moved, Coach Ross sent me the date for the dedication and ribbon cutting on the new track and field. By a fortunate coincidence my favorite airline had an airfare sale ending the day after I got that message, so I quickly booked a flight from Denver to Seattle.

I had kept up somewhat with island changes through The Beachcomber, but I wasn’t sure what to expect or if anyone would recognize me after five years. After all, I only lived there 24 years, and there was no way I could have achieved the third-generation status to become a permanent resident.

First thing I did after driving off the Tahlequah ferry was head to Dockton Park, then past my old neighborhood. Other than the new pavement on Vashon Highway, more was the same than was changed. It looked like some of the same derelict cars were in the same yards. A few houses were improved and added onto, and a few were more neglected.

When I got to downtown I saw many changes and much that is the same. Walking into The Beachcomber office felt just like five years ago. Pat, Susan, Daralyn and Liz welcomed me with open arms, and I quickly felt like friends with a couple new faces.

Walking back up to town I felt a chocolate chip croissant calling from the bakery. While the bakery had changed ownership while I was gone, the croissant brought back memories of running in for a croissant and tea on the way to an early morning ferry.

I met up with Kevin at Thriftway, and we headed to Cliff’s brew pub to relax and reminisce. Last time I saw Cliff he had just started selling two of his brews to a few island restaurants. I was happy to see he now has a successful business with a good selection of beers.

While I didn’t actually run a lap on the new track, I joined many islanders in walking the track and inspecting the beautiful new field. Not much has changed in the stands and the booth, with Russ Brazill calling the game and Nelson Phillips running the scoreboard (which is moved to the opposite end of the field).

Perhaps most important, while the cook shack is brand new and on wheels, B. J. Nelson has mastered the art of the Booster Burger, the favorite fall Friday meal of every good Pirate booster.

I was glad to note that all who still recognized me seemed happy to see me. Perhaps all those who disliked me didn’t recognize me or don’t attend football games. Or as true islanders, they were just too polite to say anything bad.

While the Pirates lost the football game, I still got to see them score their first two touchdowns of the season.

The final non-change came as I left via the north end. The ferry left late. (To be fair, they delayed the sailing to load an aid car.)

— Rik Forschmiedt was sports editor at The Beachcomber from 1995 to 2005. He moved to Estes Park, Colorado, in 2013.