Saturday, November 19, 2005

The show must go on AND the generosity

I could tell by looking at the local paper this morning that this must be the big day in Sandpoint. Rather than front-page stories, the approximately 500 pt. bold headline read "Welcome Home, Hebert Family."Below it were three ads, two from realtors. Inside the paper today was a slick, full-color real-estate guide, put out by Tomlinson-Black. I'm sure the paper, with its real estate guide, will be available at the paper box down there at the old LP Mill today.

So, today is defintely the big day of "reveal." I've heard it's at one o'clock, but I doubt I'll go. Too big of a crowd for me. I must tell about yesterday, though. All week, this event has created a lively, fascinating and sometimes surprising atmosphere for folks here in the Sandpoint area and from all around the Inland Northwest to get on the bus and go see all the goings-on at the Extreme Makeover site.

Yesterday was no exception, and I thoroughly enjoyed hosting my Appaloosa Journal editor Diane Rice and her two lovely daughters, Annette and Leanne, as they came up from Moscow in hopes of spotting some of the Extreme stars. For a few moments, I was even flanked by two of my Journal editors as we walked to the bus, Trish from The River Journal, Diane, from the Appaloosa Journal.

We arrived at the site, which now features several giant displays of advertising for the contractors involved, around noon yesterday. We got there just in time to stand, packed like sardines, in an area along Honeybucket Row and told to be quiet for the "surprise." We made our way through the crowd to an area where Diane could shoot some pictures, and after about half an hour, the surprise came forth in the form of a HUGE and beautiful black bear.

We couldn't really tell what was going on, but it was obviously a trained bear because a white bucket filled with treats kept making the rounds as it lumbered to different areas around a castle-like playhouse. Oh yeah, we also saw Ty Pennington and the British designer hanging out with the bear. Later some of the other stars came to the deck and watched the bear go through its moves while cameras caught the action.

All together, we spent about 90 minutes at the site and had a great time. My dear friend Connie and her husband Thane sent me a report on their visit last night. They had the opportunity to see most of the stars, some up close to the fence. There was plenty of autographing going on during their visit. Like my own experiences, they've met lots of locals and lots of people new to the area as they've taken their bus rides to and from the site.

There is much more to this story than meets the eye. For instance, the piece in today's Spokesman-Review, revealing that an older half brother to the twins, who lives in Post Falls with his father, has been completely left out of this event. He's been pretty forlorn during this week with all the hoopla, and the story points out that his lack of involvement has made a sad separation from his siblings even sadder after their mother died last year.

There are also the stories of people in town who've been approached to donate items for the house. Some have done so, with difficulty, because they've felt obligated. In two days, this "once-in-a-lifetime" event, which has done much to bring people together and to provide a new home and all the accessories for a deserving family, will be all over but the shouting, as they say. How it will affect the family in the long run will be interesting. How it will affect the town and its future when the show airs to its huge national following is also a thought to ponder.

It's definitely a story and a show with a variety of interesting facets, both very positive and, in some ways, somewhat questionable. I'd be the first to admit that I've had a blast this week with the new friends I've made and the old friends I've enjoyed while visiting the site. I'm thankful for the wonderful transportation system that has allowed so many people to enjoy this event as often as they've liked.

In looking ahead to a time when the lights, cameras and stars are gone, I hope the phenomenal generosity within this community, which has been so much a part of its past and so much a focus of this week's enterprise, continues. And, may it happen in equally enthusiastic fashion, absent the fanfare, as we continue to embrace and address the hundreds of other situations of dire need that exist a stone's throw (figuratively speaking) any direction from Extreme Home Make Over's Ground Zero.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Well said, old friend.

Anonymous said...

Marianne,
Great article. I wanted to share another view on the subject of the half-brother of the twins. Yes, he also lost his mother. But he has been fortunate enough to live with his father, the twins are basically orphaned as their father has abandoned them.
Also, the twins were living in a house built into the ground. I would like to know what type of living conditions the half-brother has enjoyed?
Last but not least, the uncle was a big part of the focus for the make-over. He gave up his way of life to care for his niece and nephew in order to prevent them from going into foster care.
Yes, these three people have received a lot of blessings and there are other people, many other people out there who are also in need and deserving...but let's not take away from the Hebert's because of that.

Robin Hanson