A Lovely Local Touch

Three Sandpoint natives:  Frankie Roberson, Willie Love and Willie Chapman

Oh, the stories of our local area and its people these two sisters can tell.  

And, they probably do!

We had the pleasure of seeing Willie and Frankie, longtime Sagle area residents, yesterday at the Senior Citizens Center.

Virtually, every time I see Frankie's sister Willie, there's talk of another Willie. Yesterday that other Willie just happened to be at the center also. 

You see Willie, who's about to turn 90 this year, remembers Willie Love when he was a mere toddler. 

That's cuz she was his nurse at the time. 

And, Frankie, on the left, probably saw Willie quite often during his formative years when Dr. Marienau, our family doctor, was still practicing.  

Frankie worked in Dr. Marienau's office and saw a lot of Sandpoint sitting in the waiting room of the clinic on HWY 2, thumbing through old magazines, nervously anticipating their upcoming moments with the doctor known by many youngsters for his "big bushy eye brows." 

Yesterday Bill, our son Willie and I attended the ice cream social at the Senior Center, which Debbie had helped coordinate as a fundraiser for the Bonner County Food Bank and the Senior Center. 

When we walked inside the Center, where a dance had just ended and folks were gathered around visiting at several tables, we spotted Willie and Frankie across the room and spent some time catching up.

Though I don't have a photo, I also enjoyed visiting with dear, sweet Pat Brown, who used to work at Sayers Jewelers.  She knows a little local history, just like Willie and Frankie. 

Pat's one of the Litehouse, Inc. Hawkins family.  Her brother--another Will--took many a scenic photo for the postcards of the area, which we see on display racks around town. 

I had both of Pat's daughters in school, and, these days, whenever we meet, she's always serves as a warm and friendly reminder of what I can now credibly call good "old-time" Sandpoint. 

After all, I'm now one of those "old timers" myself. 

The three of us Love's sat for about an hour at an outside picnic table enjoying our ice cream, a few cherries and several nice visits with friends, both old and new. 

Probably one of the most enjoyable moments occurred as Frankie and Willie, who were about to leave, officially met young Willie's lovely wife Debbie. 

Debbie also took a photo of the two Willie's and Frankie.

Then, I heard a brief interchange between the two Willie's, which reminded me of a time years and years ago when I met Mrs. Peter Johnson.

Had never seen the lady, who lived in a fine house down on South First, before that moment.  That didn't matter.  She knew me---in fact, seemed to know all about me. 

That day, and on a few other occasions, I learned that the golden girls of our community tend to keep track of the extended flock, so to speak.  

They truly care about their own kids and all the other young'uns, wishing the best for them.

Such enlightening moments serve as reminders that we'd better watch our "p's and q's," ALL the time cuz the older, wiser folks are keeping track.  

I guess that's a trait acquired through years and years of living in a community, knowing the families who make up the fabric and taking the time to follow their individual journeys from afar. 

In yesterday's case, it was the clippings. 

Nurse Willie told teacher Willie that she clips out newspaper articles she sees about him, as she does for so many youngsters and families she knows in our community. 

"I clip them out and then lay them out on a table at church [or other similar venues]," she said, noting that later she'll come by the table and the clippings are gone, picked up by those for whom she intended. 

I don't know how many clippings Willie has of our Willie, but I truly loved watching the interaction of this beloved retired nurse and our beloved son, the teacher and coach,  who is gradually acquiring a flock of his own local kids to keep track of as his life moves on.  

Twas a special moment, indeed, enjoying some refreshing ice cream, a few ripe cherries and spending a few precious moments with very special ladies who, as local treasures, can tell their share of stories about old-time Sandpoint.

Happy Sunday.