Weekend Album

So many memories.  So much fun. 

So nice of our kids to plan a weekend full of surprises and good times for our 45th anniversary.

Bill and I feel blessed, and we're so appreciative. 

Twas a fast-action weekend, especially cuz it was also Fathers' Day weekend. 

We made the most of every minute, and now as I write, Annie is probably boarding her plane back to Seattle. 

Willie left yesterday for Missoula and a University of Montana basketball camp. 

The weekend celebration featured different family members throughout.  

We ate beautiful cake, enjoyed pizza and then had a makeshift Fathers' Day picnic inside a shelter in Troy, Mont., during a short but intensive thunder, lightning, wind and rain storm.

Bill and Annie caught some fish in Callahan Creek.  Debbie, Emma and I visited Ross Creek Cedars. 

All in all, it was wonderful, every minute, even the singing at the top of our lungs to the sound track of "Greatest Showman" on our way home yesterday.  

Definitely a treasured weekend of fun, family and celebrations. 

I think even the dogs and horses had fun. 

Happy Monday. 

Celebrating Dads, Past and Present

Patience, Guidance, Passions, Examples:  Cool Dads

You and your influence are appreciated, especially on this day. 

Happy Father's Day! 

Marathons and Marriage

                                                                  ~~~Chris Pietsch Photos

I'll never run a marathon. 

After all, today marks 45 years of "living" a marathon.

It's called marriage.

Happily, for me, it involves a man called Love.

Somewhat like running a marathon, the marriage version requires training, patience, unselfishness, overcoming obstacles, communication, a healthy sense of humor, perseverance, trust, faith, hope, love, mutual respect and the will to keep putting one foot in front of the other, in concert with a life partner.

Unlike the marathon race, there may be the need for bang-proof pots and pans, occasional yelling or screaming, hasty and well-timed exits, moments of silence, etc., and the notion that this "ain't quite the way Hollywood often portrays it." 

Being married to Bill Love for 45 years has been both an honor and one adventure after another. 

Happily, this is one of those marathons where the finish line remains elusive and unknown. 

In the meantime, we'll keep on pretty much the way we've done for 45 years----one day at a time, one adventure at a time, always with confidence that . . . 

. . . the wind will still keep blowing at our backs and all those roads ahead will keep rising up to meet us. 

It's a wonderful life, and I am grateful to Bill for putting up with me all these years.  

He's a good man.

I am lucky. 

Happy Anniversary, Bill.

Let's keep on moving on down those roads, taking a slight detour or two.  

Cliffs of Kilkee, Ireland, 2018

Dog Days on the Pack with Humans!

I was surprised to find a parking spot near the bridge over Pack River.

This bridge is located on Colburn-Culver Road, and on hot summer days, if they don't show up early, folks headed to the swimming hole might have to park as far as half a mile away.

It was late afternoon, and possibly the usual crowd had already thinned out. 

A lady with a group of kids came toward the car next to me.

"How's the water?" I asked.

"Perfect," she said. 

If it was perfect for humans, the dogs must have been loving it. 

By the time I reached the swimming hole, it seemed as if dogs outnumbered humans.

That could have been because they were SO busy and so ubiquitous, both in the water and along the shoreline. 

Twas definitely "dog-day afternoon" during my brief visit. 

One of the humans, who had been called upon to throw balls and sticks into the water probably more times than he cared to do, announced his last throw. 

He was carrying his car keys so it was obvious he was calling it a day. 

He threw. 

Dogs leapt.

And, this time poodle boy who belongs to one of my former students, Megan, swam the fastest and retrieved the ball. 

Megan graduated with Willie.  Her husband Ezra teaches with Willie at Sandpoint High, along with several members of the SHS Class of 1995.

Megan told me she's been hanging out at the Pack River swimming hole since she was a kid, living along Lower Pack River and attending Northside School. 

I kinda imagine that the stories associated with the history of that popular country swimming hole in the Selle Valley could fill at least a couple of books. 

Endless generations of kids, babies and dogs have gotten their feet wet there. 

Later, I was reminded of the spots popularity for putting in and taking out of kayaks, canoes and pontoon boats. 

I had said good bye to Megan, returned to my car and was backing out as I saw a woman in a straw hat walking  south on the road. 

She looked familiar, and as I looked closer, I was pretty sure she was familiar.

"Becky!" I hollered.

Thankfully, she turned around and looked my way.

Becky Marienau Hawkins was walking back to her pickup after a day of kayaking on the river.  They had landed at the bridge site just as I walked away. 

It's looking like another great summer at the Pack River swimming hole on Colburn-Culver.

I doubt that I'll ever find parking spot that close to the bridge for the rest of the summer. 

Great place!

Happy 75th birthday to my brother Mike and Happy 79th to my dear friend, Pat. 

Hope you both have a wonderful day. 

Happy Friday to all.