Throwbacks, Such Memories . . . .

I can't help but think "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad" in reference to the photos I selected for today's Throwback Thursday.

Of course, I think of most days in that reference, but there's just something very special about the selection----as it reflects happy times, special days and, of course, special people.

This is the day the Lord made for my mother to marry my stepfather Harold back in 1954. 

I thought the day was pretty special back then----not so much because my mother and the neighbor from down the road at Racicots were getting married, but in my 6-year-old mind the fact that I got to take a dollar to school for hot lunch might have trumped the wedding plans. 

Mother and Harold farmed us out to the Bests and the Crocketts and headed off to Thompson Falls to get married March 12, 1954.  

Forty-seven years later, they posed with their grandson Willie on his wedding day, Aug. 11, 2001.  That was when Arby Melt Boy married Polar Swirl Girl aka Willie and Debbie. 

Today, March 12, 2015,  the little guy in the photo below became a teenager.  Happy Birthday to my grand-nephew Rory. 

Back in the late 1980s, when I advised the Sandpoint High School Student Council, we had a couple of speakers come for our spring dinner-----how many remember Faye Stevens' restaurant aka home perched on the lower mountain above Robinson Road?  

The road may have a different name these days, but we oldsters still think of Lloyd and Betty Robinson who lived on the road way back when.

Anyway, Faye said we could have our dinner up there in her home that looked over Sandpoint.  So, Chris and Debbie, who happen to be the same age, came to speak to the student leaders about their own experiences. 

These days Chris is still traveling to Europe with college students from Pacific Lutheran University and doing research for PLU and the University of Washington.  Debbie still sells real estate in the Sandpoint area.

Bill and Chris visiting before the Student Council dinner at Faye's house. 

Every day this becomes more of a special memory for me, as some of these lovely ladies aren't in the best of health.

They're the Coffee Cult, and some of them have been having coffee on Saturdays for more than 30 years, maybe even close to 40.

One time we went to Joan's house in Sunnyside and had some of her fresh-baked cinnamon rolls and coffee while sitting at the dining room table suspended from the ceiling.

Definitely a wonderful memory with some wonderful women. 

Pope Francis, look at these angels!

Your writer friend Cindy is even related to the most angelic one of all.

I'm related to one of them too.  She wants an audience with the Pope, but there might be some strings attached, should Francis grant her that opportunity.

I think all these little communicants have grown into fine, upstanding adults. 

My dear friend in crime, touching videos and ZAGS passion, Jeff.  Jeff and his dad were in Las Vegas for the WCC Tournament, and they donned their mustaches to bring good luck to the team.

This photo----taken at ???? (hint:  a famous local pizza parlor) a few years back when a bunch of my Cedar Posters got together over holiday break. 

Yeah, this is a throwback all right. I don't see a gray hair showing in either on of those heads.  These days----both are handsomely gray.

And, as you might expect, the basketball went along on the bike ride.  Might have been a City Beach run for Willie and Bill to play a little ball. 

This young man, soon to be 38, attended his first Trout Unlimited banquet the other night with his dad.  

A love for fishing comes almost as close as basketball (where you can never watch enough basketball).  Wille's been taking his various rods on fishing trips for some time. 

Happy Thursday, and happy memories to you! They're the best part of life! Let us rejoice and be glad for our lives.