Action-Packed Friday

 It was an "on-the-go" day from start to finish yesterday----one filled with oodles of laughs and smiles, a wonderful and well-received dramatic presentation at the Panida, some new friends, a celebration of two much-loved newly coined 50-year-olds and an extra-special dose of great visiting with dozens of old friends. 

Cherita Armstrong of Los Angeles and formerly New York City offered an amazing 50-minute one-woman show as Harriet Jacobs who endured several years of agony as a slave.  Jacobs kept a diary, which evolved into a book and later the production that came to Sandpoint and the Panida Theater.  Incidents in the Life of a Slave Woman will be featured at the Panida tonight at 7:30 with doors opening at 6:30. 

Chris Snock, a former school teacher from New York City, collaborates with Cherita as discussion leader for Incidents in the Life of a Slave Woman. And, Debbie Love, ex. director of the sponsoring Pend Oreille Arts Council and her team of dedicated volunteers took care of details for the event, which was presented yesterday to Sandpoint-area students. 

My sister Barbara with her Sandpoint High School students, talking to POAC volunteer Judy Thompson. 

SHS teacher Tyler Haines brought his students also. 

After yesterday's performance, I couldn't help but take this photo just down the street from the Panida where the bar and grill burned on Thursday.  I'd never heard of 1-800-Board Up. 

Jeralyn Mire and Tom Albertson turned 50 this week.  Both are popular staff members at Sandpoint High, and both graduated from the high school in 1982.  Tom was sure to note that Jeralyn IS a day older than he, so he is taking care to mind his elder. 

I believe Albertson family members were assigned cake-baking duty.  They were much kinder to Jeralyn than  their beloved Tom. 

Jeralyn LOVES purple, by the way.  So, it was a bit of a requirement for family members to honor that fact.  Brother Jim and dad Jerry. 

I don't know if it was a requirement for brother Jim to get his shirt monogrammed as such, but, like a good brother, he did. 

Bill and Willie were among the birthday guests, and, as you can see, they had a good time. 

Tom's dad Don, a dear friend and former colleague. 

Tom's nephew Zach. 

A GREAT grandma with her beloveds!  Lookin' good, Terri Albertson!

Tom and his siblings:  Nani, Scott and Tracie. 

Hadn't seen Mike McNulty for a while.  He and I both taught English at SHS.  Jeralyn, you were a bit off-target with your fingers!

Mike and Marian McNulty.  Why do they look so happy?  Well, for one thing, they were at a fun birthday celebration.  They're also headed to Sochi, Russia, on Tuesday to watch their nephew Nate Holland compete in Olympic snowboarding.

Yesterday was, indeed, a great day.

Let's hope for another good day today, including a Gonzaga victory over Memphis.

GO ZAGS!  GO SHS Bulldogs over Moscow!