TEARS OF FREAKIN' JOY >>>

This past July, Chris Wedes, better known as TV clown J. P. Patches, lost his battle with cancer at the age of 84. On television from 1958 to 1981, Wedes delighted generations of Puget Sounders with his zany antics and a style that was irreverent yet gentle.

The Weekly Volcano hasn't been the same since. We still mope about our leaky office, pouring the last little splash of flat Tab into our Boris S. Wort coffee mugs, adjusting our collection of Ggoorrsstt the Friendly Frpl lunchboxes, dusting off our Swami of Pastrami Pez statues and wondering what to do with the rest of our lives.

Then we wandered into Metropolitan Market in Tacoma's Proctor District (2420 N. Proctor) for our daily pocket stuffing of free cheese.

Holy Patches Pals! The entire Met Market staff is dressed as characters from the J.P. Patches show for Halloween. Met's floral designer Anna Stahl – dressed J.P. – pulled 14 outfits together for the staff.

If you are a Patches Pal, drop by for a hug.