Slight Detour: Saturday Slight

---- Photo from CNN

America suffered two seismic shifts yesterday: a scary, devastating earthquake in Alaska and the death of a beloved President.

Effects of the earthquake were felt hundreds of miles away from its epicenter near Anchorage.

The loss of venerable patriarch and President George Herbert Walker Bush is being felt around the world this morning.

It will take time for Alaskans to pick up the pieces and restore infrastructure, but that will happen.

Sadly, the loss of human beings is permanent.

Happily, however, their memories will endure the passage of time, especially when they happen to be our American leaders, along with their role with family, friends and the nation's citizenry.

I've always liked the Bush family. Never met a one of them, but like most Americans, we feel like we get to know enough about our public figures to decide whether or not we'd like to sit down and have a cup of coffee with them.

I think it would have been immensely fun to meet and visit with Barbara Bush, and I always loved reading about the very personal and poignant handwritten notes for which the first President Bush was famous.

Both displayed several layers of humanity, as have their children.

One of the better stories I've ever heard about the Bush family came in an interview with President George W. Bush.

Essentially, he let the audience know that being President and going home to be family members offered no free passes.

If ya had your feet on the coffee table---even if you were President---your mom Barbara would still reprimand you and tell you to get 'em off the table.

Perfectly normal behavior, I'm sure, in most families and definitely a credible anecdote worthy of making a total stranger feel connected to these folks.

So, yes, we don't know these public figures, but we sure do pay attention to the examples they set.

In my mind, President George Herbert Walker Bush set a wonderful example as a human being.

Like all of us, though, he was flawed. After all, he didn't like broccoli.

Still, like his famous thousand points of light characterization of America, he kept a few of his own positive attributes burning brightly through his military and combat service, his diplomacy, his respect for the office of the Presidency, his outward love for his family and his respect for America and its citizens.

And, so on this first day of Advent, it's sad to say good bye to this beloved President. As we consider the current state of this country, President George Walker Bush's loss, along with the example he set, is definitely seismic.

RIP, President Bush.

With this beginning of Advent, we can officially get serious about the Christmas season.

A nice man opened the door for me the other day when I walked into Sears Hardware Store to get some gift ideas.

I told him he looked like Santa Claus. Steve told me he'd heard that a time or two.

As we visited, I learned that today he'll be in alter ego attire at Bonners Ferry's community Christmas tree lighting ceremony.

He showed me a photo in his Santa suit, and I must say he looks pretty dapper.

So, if you're in Bonners and see Steve aka Santa, tell him Marianne said hi.

I won't be in Bonners Ferry because it's a ZAGS day, and we've got to get our chores done early cuz the ZAGS are playing at 11 a.m. PST on Fox 28.

Today they'll tip off against the Creighton Blue Jays, and it's their first "official" game on the road where they play in a "hostile" gym.

So, it should be a good test for No. 1. GO, ZAGS! We like being No. 1.

Happy Saturday.

Steve aka Santa makes a nice door man at Sears Hardware.

Downtown Sandpoint is especially stunning at night during this holiday season.

I've never seen so many Christmas lights. It's fun walking down the sidewalks.

Imagine how beautiful and magical Sandpoint will be when a blanket of snow adds to the scene.