SLOW Down, Etc.

 

It's okay for Liam to tear around the fields at high speeds. 

It's not okay, however, for his mom to speed in a school zone. 

"You'll never forget that from now on, right?" ISP trooper Jonathan Cushman suggested to me. 

"No," I said.  

Later, I told him I would turn my bad example into a reminder for others.

I made a mistake yesterday after turning off from Selle Road and heading south on Colburn-Culver.

I saw the Idaho State police car parked on the side of the road just past the cemetery.   

Then, in the rear view mirror, I saw him turn on to the road.  I turned left on Rapid Lightning Creek Road, and soon, the trooper did also. 

Soon, the blue and red lights started flashing. 

I stopped.  

He stopped, got out of the car and walked to my window.  

By that time, I had my wallet in hand to pull out my driver's license and prepared myself mentally to take whatever consequences would come for whatever I had done wrong.

That's when he told me I was speeding, not that much, but for the last week and until the end of the school year, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. day, my speed of 34 mph was not acceptable. 

I was driving through the Northside School zone, and school was in session. 

Had I driven through that same area before 8 or after 4, I would have been perfectly legal.

Yes, Officer Cushman, I won't forget, and I hope this post helps others remember that school is back in session and that we must slow down in school zones. 

Thank you, Sir, for the reminder, issued in a business-like but pleasant manner. 

It was nice to meet you and to see you later at Pack River General Store. 

And, so our Liam can race around all he wants, but I'll be paying more attention when driving around school zones from now on.  

I went to the Pack River General Store restaurant yesterday for the second time in two days to visit with a former student from out of town.

Former SHS student, Keith Lee Morris, author and Clemson professor now on sabbatical and pictured below,  is in town working on a writing project.  

So, we got together for lunch, did some catching up and talked about his project. 

I came away from yesterday's lunch thinking that Keith probably knows more about what's happening in Sandpoint than I do.  

Whenever he comes to town, he gets together with dozens of friends aka locals and catches up on community happenings. 

While waiting for Keith to arrive (I did wonder for a moment if Officer Cushman had stopped him by the Northside School), I saw a man roll into the parking lot on a big, shiny motorcycle. 

Upon looking closer, I recognized John Pucci, a Sandpoint legend, as a Schweitzer ski patrolman and best man to many, many wedding grooms over the years. 

All that, and John's also one of the nicest people in town. 

So, we had a nice visit, including some of his stories about visiting Italy, the land of his heritage. He's ready to go back. 

I told Keith I wouldn't take his picture while he was eating.  

He said go right ahead and even did some posing while savoring that bite of his reuben sandwich.

It was Keith's first time at the Pack River General Store Restaurant, and I have a feeling he'll find his way out there again. 

As always, the food is fabulous.  

As of today, my writing projects for now are complete, freeing me to start some of the fall clean-up and put-aways.  

Tomatoes are still coming like hotcakes, so those plants will remain in the garden, but the cucumber vines will go of to their permanent home today.

I'll also pick all the carrots and prepare them for the freezer.  Some may go into the barn for the horses. 

Lots of little outdoor projects are on the schedule, and no time to waste since a few days of rain are coming. 

Loving September. 

Happy Wednesday. 

Sandpoint High grad Brian Hobday started something on Facebook, which, I'm sure, at the beginning, he never dreamed would spark such popularity.

It's a group page called "Signs You Are a Sandpoint Kid." 

Well, the signs have been revealed steadily for months now that the DNA of what makes Sandpoint is alive and well in the minds of many who grew up in our small town. 

Tons of photos, oodles and oodles of memories.  

In recent days, my friend and former student Chris Pietsch has been sharing photos from a box of black-and-white prints (many taken by his dad Gary and other photographers for the Sandpoint News Bulletin). 

Chris's contributions to the Facebook page have included school shots of participation at regional parades and images from past Fourth of July parades.

To say the least, these are treasures, and their appearance in this popular group page has revived a lot of wonderful memories for those who appear in the photos and those who know people or even lived in houses in the pictures.

So, if you're on Facebook and haven't seen this group, check it out.  Once  you join, you'll see what's been posted so far and what's yet to come.  I have a feeling this feature will be a never-ending story, and that will be fun. 

The photo above has great meaning to me because that's my mother Virginia Tibbs riding that pretty mare and leading other riders representing our Schweitzer Valley Dwellers 4-H Club.

I do believe that's Chris wearing the Western hat and helping carry the banner.  

The group won several trophies over the years for their division in the parade.  Plus, we had a lot of fun.  

Priceless photos!