An afternoon with Erica

Erica Curless takes the oath of office to become an official member of the Lovestead Lodgepole Society.

She repeated the oath correctly, signed the log and became the second inductee
into the society for 2009.

For Erica's inner circle, please note the Red Feather snow shoes, purchased at the Alpine Shop in Sandpoint, Idaho.

I loaned them to her for her first-ever snow shoeing experience, and she highly approved.

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We’ve visited only in snatches over the past few years---at weddings, funerals, the Spokesman-Review office, luncheons, and the county fair. We’ve exchanged emails too, but not until yesterday have we enjoyed a full-fledged, undistracted gabfest.

Erica Curless had never been to the Lovestead. Funny how we’ve lived here nearly three years and have experienced no late-night invasions with post-it notes and toilet paper.
Now that she knows where we live, I’ll have to live in fear of the next time her gang gets together.

For now, however, I’m savoring a fun afternoon spent here at the Lovestead with a former student, fellow journalistic professional and damn good friend. I threw “damn” in there cuz Erica sprinkles those words and a few other choice determiners into her conversation from time to time.

We drank coffee and talked.

We went snow shoeing and talked.

We looked at horses and talked.

We drove to my mother’s and talked.

I drove away from my mother’s and Erica was still talking to my sisters about a common passion---horses.

I learned a lot from my former student yesterday-----some stuff about the slimeballs of the world. After all, she’s encountered a few during her years as a reporter for the Spokesman-Review.

I learned about equine massage therapy, which she is now practicing and preaching after taking an in-depth course on the subject at Colorado State University last summer and fall.

I learned that horses are built like Volkswagen buses----the power works from back to front. In the case of horses, the right touch here and the right touch there can make a huge difference in their ability to perform as athletes.

I learned that Erica is now learning how to promote her newest vocation along life’s journey and that she’s gonna practice and preach massage therapy principles with dogs too. So, she’ll be an equine/canine lady with the right touch.

I learned good news and bad news about common friends who’ve been in our circle forever. And, I’m hoping the bad news will turn toward the better.

Erica learned a "how to" lesson from me her OLD teacher, but it wasn’t the teacher that made the difference. After all, if you can strap on a snow shoe, you can transport yourself with a snow shoe. She did okay for her first time as we walked and talked with dogs running circles around us on our way to the God Tree.

She signed up, and she’s now a bona fide member of the Lovestead Lodgepole Society.

Erica and I even discussed the possibility of teaming up as writing mentors for folks who want to write memoirs. Now that would be a thrill for me, and it would certainly complete the circle to have my student working alongside me.

I think I would be the benefactor more than she because she’s learned a “helluva” lot about writing for a public audience since her days with high school journalism and the Cedar Post.

We could be a pretty good team talking about writing because she loves people like I do, and she knows how to drum up a laugh or two from folks of all ages.

She’s especially wonderful with the elderly bringing them warmth, genuine interest and a dose of her vibrant take of life in general. I know she made my mother’s day yesterday. Erica has grown up, knowing that you respect your elders because she’s spent a lot of quality time with hers.

I thoroughly enjoyed my afternoon with Erica, and once again, I’m happy to report that it’s a blessing to have friends and former students like her.

Randy and Gail Curless, you “done” good with your daughter!