Thursday Thoughts

 

The visiting Siamese came back this week and made itself at home on the deck.  

Bridie wasn't so sure that it should be there, but the cat is pretty assertive. 

Lasean and Gene Driggs at an event celebrating our St. Joseph's parish priest Fr. O'Donovan when he officially took on the title of Monsignor.

 

Several years ago, I received an email from a fellow St. Joseph's parishioner, a very generous and thoughtful man named Pat West.  Until then, I had no idea that Pat even knew about my blog. 

In fact, he had followed it faithfully and long enough to know that I loved the men's basketball team at Gonzaga University.  The team is known as the ZAGS. 

Basically, his note said that he understood that I was a ZAGS fan AND how would I like to attend a game. 

First, I was flabbergasted to hear of his interest in my blog and then, blown away with his offer. 

After calling him to say, of course, I'd love to go to a ZAGS game, he told me that he also wanted Lasean Driggs to go. 

Lasean, a former elementary teacher, could often be called the "face of St. Joseph's."  It seemed like she did everything possible to support the parish, and Pat appreciated her good work as well as her love for the ZAGS. 

So, that became the plan.  

Lasean and I visited over the phone and made plans as to how and when we would go to Gonzaga University's Kennel and sit in Pat and Carol's seats about eight seats behind the team. 

When Game Day came, so did some really horrible weather.  It was winter and traveling anywhere was dicey, let along the 80 miles into Spokane.  

I can't remember what happened with our car that day because it had a problem, but I do remember wondering if this was a good idea to make the trip, since we had heard that traffic on the highways was slow. 

But when you're a ZAGS fan . . . . 

Bill sent me off with his Ford Ranger truck.  I picked up Lasean, and if I remember correctly, we took a different route than usual to Spokane. 

We made it just fine and loved every minute of that game, seeing the players and coaches we loved in real life. 

When we left the university after the game, I drove around several blocks before an alert Lasean noted that the lights on the Ford Ranger were not on.  I had gotten used to lights going on automatically in my car, so it was lucky for us that we had no incidents before that discovery. 

Lasean loved the ZAGS, and she truly loved what she did for the church.  As I said on a Facebook post yesterday after learning of her passing:  she was a woman who lived and practiced her faith.  

That's how I'll always think of Lasean, especially because of all the time she spent taking communion to my mother in her later years.  This ministry for the Church involved driving many miles in all kinds of weather.  

Upon arrival, Lasean always added a huge dose of friendship and visiting each time she came. 

She and Gene were hard-working people who raised four wonderful kids.  I had the pleasure of having two of them as English students at Sandpoint High School. 

She will be missed, but her memory will remain inspirational to all who knew her and especially those who were recipients of her lifetime of good and faithful work. 

RIP, Lasean.

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In other news, I just learned that our hay supply will come today or tomorrow.  We are very fortunate to be on Leonard and Naomi Wood's list of customers. 

Plus, they have some great young workers in their family who are kind enough to stack it in our barn. For that, we are always grateful. 

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And, speaking of gratitude, my orthopedic specialist gave me some good news yesterday.  After having an MRI which determined I had torn the meniscus in my left knee, I went in to find out what to do about it, praying that he would not say the "S" word aka "surgery." 

He did not.  Instead, he has referred me to physical therapy and told me to take 12-hour Aleve every morning.  I'm not one to take meds, but if the doctor orders it, I'll follow instructions. 

It was nice yesterday to go the day without any pain. I'm grateful for that and very grateful that he's doing his best to keep me on course to walk those few miles on the Camino when we meet Annie in Spain this fall. 

YAY and thanks, Dr. Leedle. 

With the hay coming, I'd better get sign off and get moving.  

Happy Thursday.  Enjoy the photos.