Slight Detour: Super Saturday Seens

Can a jam-packed, much anticipated day in May go off without a hitch?

Well, almost.

In my mind---looking forward---yesterday would be one of those days when so many delightful moments create nearly a scrapbook full of memories.

Lovely and pleasant spring weather, blossoms bursting out all over, family members celebrating a string of birthday activities off in Seattle while some stayed home to celebrate a family tradition of watching the Kentucky Derby.

Along with all that----things to do, places to go and people to see.

Yup, parts of the day involved down-to-the-second timing. Mow that plot of dandelions, run that vacuum through the house, set up the cake and all the goodies for the afternoon party.

While I was doing that stuff, my sisters and friends were busy at the county fairgrounds, participating as horse handlers and, in Barbara's case, as the official judge. I even saw my neighbor Tricia involved in what was probably her first experience showing a horse---a mini at that.

Meanwhile, a group of people featured in the upcoming Sandpoint Magazine would soon be gathering at the old Co-Op complex for a photo, which was part of my assignment for a story.

So, on my way to take the picture, I turned off the highway and drove down the Bronx Road toward Boyer. In spite of a very tight time schedule, I had to stop at the Sand Creek bridge where two anglers and their sidekicks were trying their luck, probably at the same hole where the late Patrick F. McManus fished a few years back.

One fisherman, Corey, unfortunately, was standing at an angle where I compose a very good picture, but his friend and those colorful dogs across the stream----no composition necessary, no planning----just snap, and you have a wonderful scene which epitomizes this time of year in North Idaho.

I spent a few minutes at the fairgrounds and then headed off for the picture shoot in town. In my normally early arrival, I actually had a few minutes to walk around the parking lot where several new businesses, including Evans Bros. coffee shop combine for a unique culture.

Later this summer, Matchwood Brewing Co., which is in the peak of construction will add a major touch to the atmosphere, alive with visual memories of past times when a busy creamery provided my mother along with other local dairy owners a place to sell her thick Guernsey gold and where local farmers drove in and out on a regular basis picking up oats, barley and other mixes of goodies for cows and horses.

Eventually, the group featured in the magazine story showed up, as did editor Trish Gannon who had come up with the concept. While I was arranging these four subjects, one handed me her purse, which was quickly slung over my shoulder.

The photo shoot went rather quickly and successfully as did the introduction of new friends, most meeting for the first time yesterday. When Trish asked if I wanted to accompany her to the museum where another photo was scheduled, I declined, noting that work needed to be done at home before the guests arrived.

So, off I went. While passing through Ponderay, I suddenly remembered that I had forgotten to buy the roses. After all, a Kentucky Derby party must have roses! So, I turned around and headed back to Yoke's.

After parking, I reached over to get my purse.

MEGA-OOPS!

That was not my purse. My purse was beneath the black purse, which did look a lot like mine.

OMG! Yup, it was a moment worse than that, especially since the lady who had handed me the purse told me she had lost her cell phone somewhere at home and had not yet found it.

Her day had not gotten off to a good start.

Well, without even asking her, I knew it had gotten worse. Mine wasn't going so well either, especially because I had no way of calling her to tell her I had her purse.

I raced into the store, leaving my purse behind, grabbed a dozen red roses and doled out all the change in my pocket, which happened to be ten cents more than I needed to pay for the roses.

Then, it was back to the car, out of the parking lot and back toward town.

Has anyone ever noticed how slowly people in front drive and how green lights turn red when you absolutely need to get to a spot by "yesterday," if possible?

Well, I followed the slow drivers and stopped at the red lights, all the time thinking how desperate that lady might be by now, especially if her car keys were in her purse which was sitting in my passenger seat.

As I arrived back at the old Co-Op complex, my friend withOUT HER black purse was sitting there with another participant in the photo shoot.

Yes, her keys were in the purse inside my car. Yes, another participant had headed to my house out here in Selle to track me down and get that lady's purse.

A profuse apology for my inadvertent purse snatching hardly seem adequate. I pulled a rose from the dozen and handed it to her.

She took it all in stride and informed me she still hadn't figured out where her phone was.

Her new friend was attempting to use an app on her cell phone to find the missing phone. I never heard if that strategy worked out, as I left (now 45 minutes behind on my already tight schedule).

Fortunate for me, the gentleman driving the nine miles out to Selle received an alert on his cell phone that the purse had been returned.

Later, I also learned that Trish had gone to the museum and had taken her pictures without a memory card in her camera.

Yesterday, for me at least, turned out to be a day where all's well that ends well, and except for the purse snatching episode, it was about as perfect as one could expect. The party was a blast, and during the Derby, Annie and Bill were placing bets the Sounders match at CLINK stadium.

I kept them informed on the Derby action while they continued to send texts, keeping me aware of what they were doing and where they were going. The match ended with 0-0.

Turns out here at home, Debbie won the betting pot, and later, it turned out that Bill, Willie and Annie struck pay dirt at the Seattle Mariners game when they discovered our friends, Rick and Ann Gehring, and their niece also enjoying the game.

During part of the Mariners-Angels matchup, I sat on my couch and coordinated some ball-park communications, telling Bill where Ann and Rick were sitting. So, they ended up having a nice visit and each reported back to Sandpoint on that too.

It looks like the birthday boys, Annie and the Gehrings were treated to an extra special and exciting experience with an 11-inning Mariner win over Los Angeles.

Definitely a day filled with phenomenal memories for most concerned. Sure hope my friend found her cell phone.

Today, the birthday boys and Annie go fishing with our friend Shiraz at Rocky Ford near Ephrata. Hope they land some big ones to make it almost a picture perfect weekend.

Happy Sunday. Enjoy the photos.