A Day of Fun and Friendship

To summarize yesterday accurately would require living the day once more.

I think I would like to do that. 

So many moments; so many soon to be treasured memories. 

As I type, my longtime friend Susie is headed to her camper to soon be on the road for her family reunion in Bigfork, Mont. 

As I look back on yesterday, I'll always remember the fun lunch at Sweet Lou's with Susie, our mutual friend Chris, Bill and my brother Mike. 

While at Sweet Lou's, I actually finally met "Sweet Lou."  He's pictured below.  Yesterday he was working in the restaurant.  

Sweet Lou will soon be a high school senior and he'll spend one more year as an accomplished member of the Sandpoint High School swim team. 

He's a very nice young man and definitely worth of having a restaurant named after him (three, in fact). 

Lunch was great fun, especially watching Mike getting acquainted with Chris and Susie.  It didn't take much time for them to all find and share some commonalities.  

Chris, a retired psychology professor, taught Mike's daughter Maureen at Pacific Lutheran University, and Susie spent two years traveling through South America where Mike has also spent time and developed a passion for several areas. 

Another highlight of the day came when we went in search of raspberry jam.  We happened on to two jars at Ken and Sandy Babin's house and another three at Jon Bair's home. Both happen to also have beautiful flowers adorning their respective homes. 

In Susie's county of Delta in Colorado, a late freeze killed off this year's crops of fruit. 

And, Susie likes jam or jelly on her toast, so she sought out anyone who had jam or jelly available. 

We topped off the day sitting outside and listening to some of Susie's favorite music and some cowboy poetry.  

Thanks to her, we have found a new performer (for us) whose work will receive abundant attention from now on. 

She introduced us to country singer Dave Stamey.  I have no idea how I've missed him all these years, but to have discovered him last night definitely added a highlight to the day. 

And, to have discovered just this morning that he has performed with the Grinnell College Symphony orchestra added a special touch for Bill and me.  

After all, when we have a son named Willie who has received an honorary doctorate from Grinnell, this music is even more special. 

So, a great day with good friends and fun experiences and one I'll remember for a long, long time. 

Susie has headed on down the road, and, at home, Bill and I will be reliving the wonderful moments of a very special day.  

Enjoy the photos AND do listen to the music.  I think Dave Stamey needs to be invited to perform at the Festival at Sandpoint.  

Happy Wednesday. 

The real "Sweet Lou" 

Tuesday This and That

 

I parked in downtown Sandpoint yesterday and actually found an open spot just two doors down from Sawyer's Bakery.  

My goal was to pick up some of Becky's baked goods to bring home for our current guest. 

It turned out that Sawyer's is closed on Monday's, but Becky was there doing prep work for the week ahead. 

I told her I'd be back on a day when she was open and when I still didn't have to worry about getting a parking fine. 

Parking is free in downtown Sandpoint now and, until the City Administration figures out what to do next about the new parking plan.  Its confusing launch has led to downtown stores losing significant business, which of course, means dollars lost. 

My trip to town was hardly in vain, however, with Sawyer's being closed.  

I actually experience a delightful mini adventure while walking from my car to Sawyer's. 

I met Rachel Turcotte, who reports for KHQ-Channel 6 in Spokane.  Yesterday she was on the First Avenue sidewalk interviewing people about the parking situation in Sandpoint. 

She wondered if I'd like to be interviewed.  I said no because she couldn't remove my wrinkles and because I was more thrilled about meeting another journalist than talking about downtown parking. 

So, she was happy to listen to my parking opinions AND talk journalism. 

Rachel, who's from Edmonds, Wash.,  recently graduated from WSU. 

As people came by, eventually Rachel found a willing participant, Marilyn Dalby Sabella, owner of Eve's Leaves.  

Marilyn had definite opinions about the parking situation so she was happy to talk to Rachel. 

Rachel and I exchanged contact information, and I think we'll keep in touch. 

As always, it was fun to add a new friend, especially one we can watch on TV every night. 

Since Becky had no baked goods, I walked across the street to the Bluebird Bakery and picked up a loaf of their wonderful rosemary-flavored bread. 

And, this morning, my guest and LONGtime friend Susie "Sky" Baldwin has enjoyed a slice toasted and slathered with homemade jelly.

Susie, as I call her, is here until tomorrow morning.  She lives in Colorado and is on her way to a family reunion in Big Fork, Mont.  

So, in addition to a day where our friends with horses across the fence came over to work in the round pen and Susie's arrival, it's was a busy but fun time. 

Today will be the same. 

Later this morning, I'm receiving the prosthesis to help my ankle tendon heal.  

We're also meeting our mutual friend Chris for lunch and then will probably visit into the night, with talk about horses, family, our mutual "golden age" situations and life in general. 

The two of us have much from the past to dredge up and even more individual experiences of our adult lives to share, so it's gonna be a good time. 

Enjoy the photos, and, Rachel, keep up the good work. 

See you on my TV.

Happy Tuesday.  

Leslie and Faith came over yesterday and worked horses in the round pen. 

Rachel spent some time talking to this couple about Sandpoint's new parking plan. 

Below:  she interviewed Marilyn Dalby Sabella. 

A selfie with Rachel at the button. 

Becky Sawyer, owner of Sawyer's Bakery on First Avenue in downtown Sandpoint.  

It's located in the old Image Maker. 

While hanging out on First Avenue, I even saw my friend Becky and some of her family members. 

Becky told me that she and the visitors are headed to Glacier today. 

Susie "Sky" Baldwin enjoying some fresh blueberries and raspberries for breakfast.

She and her family lived at the red house on what's now the Bonner County Fairgrounds.  They stayed in Sandpoint for five years before her father Dick was transferred with the U.S. Forest Service to Missoula. 

We rode the roads on our horses during much of that time.  

90 Somethings; Friends; World Cup

I went to a birthday party in Priest River yesterday.

  The two individuals pictured below, Lois Parenteau Blasko and her twin brother Leonard were celebrating their 90th year.  

Both were educators in our school district and both now live near Priest River. 

I first met Lois in the seventh grade when Mr. Chronic, our science teacher, had the mumps and had to take three weeks off from school.  Lois was our substitute in his absence. 

The years went by, and when I became a teacher, Leonard was a school district administrator and Lois continued her career as an elementary teacher. 

She and I became friends through the decades. I also felt great joy when I'd see her friend that she grew up with, Jean Martin (seated in the photo above) and Lois out and about together. 

Ornery and fun ol' gals is how I view them. 

Jean turned 90 this year also, as did Bob Gooby who's standing behind the walker.  

I love this photo above because some of those folks knew me since I was a toddler, and I knew some of those others when they were born.  That would be James Martin (seated), Bobbi Lynn Gooby (standing) and Lorna Martin Low (seated on the right. 

What a blend there is in the ages and the personal experiences spent with each individual over the years.  

I taught James and Lorna (and Lorna's son Mike).  I knew Bobbi as our neighbor when we lived over on Great Northern Road. 

Jean and Bob have been family friends forever.

To say this photo is a treasure in my personal life is an understatement. 

All of the 90 year-olds have touched lives in so many wonderful days, and all of us "young'uns" have some amazing inspirations as human beings to follow as we make our way toward 90. 

We are so fortunate to have had you in our lives. 

Happy Birthday to all and thanks.  

Good folks, to say the least. 

Lois, above; twin brother Leonard below. 

I found it ironic to go to a birthday party in Priest River and, within minutes, meet a bunch of Sandpoint High grads, some former students. 

That would be Carrie, Paul, Joe, Paul's wife from Vietnam and Mary. 

Great fun seeing them all. 

Siblings James and Lorna, longtime and beloved family friends. 

Below:  Mary Thacker graduated from Sandpoint High School in 1980, and it's been 46 years since I last saw her.  

I so enjoyed catching up with her and learning that she is part of the Driggs family (many of you locals knew Lasean and Gene). 

Mary told me she has six wonderful kids, and I think, from visiting with her, I know why. 

Breta is Lois' daughter, and I'm thinking she may have been instrumental in helping organize the gathering.  Again, it has been decades since I've seen her.  

So, it was fun to meet her husband Steve.  The two worked for the Montana Dept. of Transportation. 

And, of course, since Breta's mom is Jean's sidekick, we had to have this group picture. 

I loved the halftime show at the World Cup Final, especially the scene above. 

A beautiful halftime for a beautiful sport. 

A supreme example of what life on this earth should be about. 

You win. 

You lose. 

You hug. 

And, the poignant observation by Lamine Yamal below says it all. 

Lamine Yamal: “Winning the World Cup should have been the happiest moment of my life, but when I saw Leo standing there after the final whistle, my heart broke. 

For a few seconds, I forgot we were rivals. I just saw the man who made me fall in love with football.” 

 “I went up to him because no legend should leave a stage like that feeling alone. This is the same Lionel Messi who inspired an entire generation to dream, the same man whose name every kid shouted while playing in the street. Seeing him heartbroken wasn’t easy at all.” 

 “I told him: ‘Thank you.’ Not for tonight, but because without you, I don’t know if I’d be here today. Before I was old enough to understand football, you had already changed my life. You gave kids like me the chance to believe that magic was real.” 

 “At 39, he was still carrying Argentina, still calling for the ball, still deciding matches, and still terrifying the world’s best defenders.

 Most players are remembered for what they did years ago. Messi was still making history in the present. That deserves more than applause; it deserves eternal respect.”

 “The world will celebrate Spain, and it should, because we earned this title. But don’t let a single result make you forget everything Messi gave to this World Cup. Every time he touched the ball, you felt like something impossible was about to happen. That’s a gift very few footballers have given to this sport.” 

 “When I hugged him, I wasn’t consoling someone who had failed. I was embracing the greatest player my generation has ever seen.

 Finals are won or lost, trophies change hands, but a greatness like Lionel Messi’s belongs to football forever.” 

 “Someday, people will ask me what it was like to face Lionel Messi in a World Cup final. I won’t start by talking about the trophy. I’ll tell them I shared the pitch with my idol, that I looked him in the eyes after the final whistle, and that I thanked him for changing football forever. That moment will stay with me for the rest of my life.”

Let us all strive to support a world of Lamine Yamal's and Lional Messi's. 

This little deformed raccoon has been dubbed Jimothy and has become a viral sensation. 

Jimothy resides with his family in the same general area of Seattle where Annie lives.

Talk about a "poster child."   

A very busy week lies ahead:  company, preparing for company, more social events. 

It's summer!

Happy Monday. 

Album: Flowers, Art and 50 Years

 

It was a day filled with good memories and nostalgic scenes, floral, artistic and human. 

I awakened partway through the night and, for a while, could not get back to sleep as lovely moments of the day kept flashing through my mind. 

Some of those scenes occurred at an art sale at a home in North Sandpoint which benefitted the Bonner Community Food Bank. 

While strolling through the scene with my daughter-in-law Debbie, I felt like it was a toss-up as to what was most colorful---the flowers or the paintings. 

Together, both of the above made for a magical scene. 

Later Bill and I attended a Golden Wedding Anniversary just down Selle Road at the old Lichter farm where Loretta Lichter Johnson and her husband Brian, now living in Walla Walla, had invited family, friends and neighbors to help them celebrate 50 years of marriage. 

I loved every minute of both events and especially loved taking photos of each. 

Hope you enjoy. 

The social fun continues today with a 90th birthday party for a set of twins. 

Should be double the fun.  

Happy Sunday. 

Scroll along with the music. 

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