Thursday, April 02, 2015

Thursday Throwbacks for Bill, the Birthday Boy










Well, 65 years ago today, Bill's twin sister Margaret said hello to the world in Alexandria, Louisiana.  A few minutes later, along came Bill. 

The two grew up in Oakdale, down the road a few miles from "Alek," as they called it, and then graduated from McNeese State University in Lake Charles.

After her graduation, Margaret taught school in Louisiana and Texas before moving to the San Francisco area where she spent most of her career working with the arts.  She retired a year or so ago from the California State Parks Dept. in San Francisco.

Margaret joined us as a family last year on our trip to Ireland where they celebrated their 64th birthday in Galway. 

Meanwhile, in late 1973, Bill moved West and, thanks to the 1974 January floods, started his career with the U.S. Forest Service out of Bonners Ferry Ranger Station.  

He eventually moved on to the Idaho Dept. of Lands, and, a few days after retiring, he went to work for Inland Forest Management in Sandpoint.

During all those years, he's played tennis, fished, ridden bikes, fished, cross country skied, fished, golfed, fished, hiked to most mountain tops in the Idaho Panhandle, fished, geocached and, yes, continued to fish.  

I think there's a common denominator.  

Bill also worked during some winters back in the 1970s at Schweitzer Basin as a ski lift operator.  

And, he's been a good father and a wonderful husband.  He loves the outdoors, loves the family pets and cutting wood.  Bill loves his church and music.  

He also loves Smith Creek, the Moyie River, Cocolalla Creek and Ireland, where he has fished, of course! 

After much hands-on research, he also knows where the best convenience-store fried chicken and chocolate milkshakes are in the Idaho Panhandle. 

A good life, I'd say and many good years to go.  Happy Birthday to my husband Bill and to his older sister (by nine minutes) Margaret.  

Hope you both have a wonderful day, and welcome to the BIG M gang.  We're a happy lot and hoping to stay healthy enough NOT to use the BIG M. 

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday, Bill! Enjoy your day! Hoping it can include some fishing.... Helen & Skip

Unknown said...

Thanks for the great post, Marianne. Delightful photos!

Anonymous said...

You truly are very blessed. He sounds like a "keeper" for sure. Enjoy each other, and treasure every day of good health and happiness. Happy BD, and Happy Easter 😊