Oprah has her "Big Give." Seinfeld had the "Big Salad." Tensed, Idaho, and this sisterhood, plus one sister-in-law with an injured ankle have the "BIG STORE." They opened Wednesday in downtown Tensed along HWY 95, and they're tired but excited. They've got BIG PLANS for the BIG STORE, including a deli starting Monday and possibly biscuits and gravy for the early crowd.
Marilyn Todd, the sister on the right and the self-proclaimed "mouth," says the enterprise is just a bunch of "retired broads" who decided to run a store. Her sisters, Sharon Cummings and Pat Magers, and sister-in-law Lynda Dohrman took over the store recently, spruced it up and opened it this week with a nice array of light groceries---that would include both big and little bags of chips and soft drinks in their vintage coke machine. Their mother's range is in the store, and they want to deal with some antiques, but for now, getting the store in full operation takes up their time.
I met the ladies last night on my way home from Moscow (sorry, Laura, I got a late start or would have stopped in Plummer to say hi). I needed a cup of coffee and a treat for the remainder of my road trip. Hadn't noticed the store before, but something drew my eye to it---not the sign, though.
One sister told me she forked out a hundred dollars to get one of the Tensed locals to erect it for her next week. Then, there will be no way travelers can miss the "Big Store." By the way, it's not visible, but in the lower right-hand corner, I noticed someone added "AKA Clem's." I'm sure there's a story behind that.
I gathered from our visit last night that its name is legendary to Tensed folks. Apparently, there was the "Little Store" and the "BIG STORE," but the little store burned down. Since I just had a napkin for notes, I didn't get all the details, but I did get the impression that anyone who stops at Tensed's "BIG STORE" is in for great service and a story or two from friendly owners doing their darndest to run a thriving enterprise.
I learned a lot more about the sisters who have more sisters and brothers, most living in the Tensed area after transplanting to Idaho in 1956 when their dad came through, driving a hay truck from Central Washington. Eventually, he exchanged his farmer bibs for logging duds and his hay truck for a logging truck. Some members of the family followed suit, and one is even a forester at Riley Creek Lumber Co.
My experience at the BIG STORE last night was definitely worth the stop, and I assured the gals that I'd be checking in on all further trips down HWY 95, if for no other reason than to enjoy their enthusiastic hospitality. Who knows---maybe one of these days, they'll decide to put a "BIG SALAD" on the menu, and maybe even Oprah might come driving by with her friend Gail to enjoy the fun.
Thanks, ladies, for a good time. And, good luck.
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I had a great time in Moscow yesterday, handing out Appaloosa cookies at the Appaloosa Journal office, meeting the magazine staff and visiting with my friend, Diane, who's the editor. The university bookstore, along with event organizer, Patty Carscallen and manager Peg Godwin, enjoyed a plate of cookies also.
The book signing didn't have too many lapses cuz familiar faces kept showing up at the table. I met one more member of the Crockett family yesterday. This would be the older brother of the younger brother, whom Willie interviewed for the Idaho Press-Tribune a few weeks ago. The younger brother is state champion wrestler and all-around scholar athlete from Parma, while the older brother, a very patient young man named John is a year out from receiving his electrical engineering degree from the U of I. He, his girl friend, his mom and grandmother were all there to greet me at the signing.
Lots of other nice folks made the time go by quickly, including my longtime friend and classmate Susan Tate from Palouse. The signing was definitely fun and worth the drive. Thanks so much to the university bookstore folks for their work in sponsoring the event.
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I'm sitting here this morning, looking out the window toward the front yard. That powdered-sugar layer of brand-new snow that covering the grass is slowly disappearing, but more is falling. They promised us this several days ago, and it seems that when the promise involves rotten weather this year, it's always kept. At least, it's not bad enough to stop outside activities, which this weekend will include removal of more stuff from the storage shed.
Maybe next week the contractor will come and lay out the exact dimensions for the new shed, and maybe in a couple of weeks, one more reminder of a devastating winter will be but a passing memory.
Happy Saturday to all.
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