Slight Detour: Tuesday This, That and Guys in the Boat

Twas a 40-year wait for First Lutheran Associate Pastor Steve Neuder, but he realized a dream-come-true recently.

Back in the 1970s, while Steve was attending Sandpoint High School, he was probably actress Kristy McNicol's most enthusiastic fan.

As a freelance writer always looking for a good story, I knew I'd hit pay dirt upon learning that Steve had a collection of more than 400 Kristy pictures displayed on his bedroom wall.

It didn't take much for Steve to happily tell me about his affinity with the actress, who was his age and who appeared in the television series "Family."

The story appeared in an entertainment feature of the Spokane Chronicle.

Steve moved on with his life, working for several years in the Los Angeles area before returning home and eventually marrying Sandpoint's Elizabeth Foster, a local physical therapist.

The two are proud parents of two lovely young women, including Julia, who's 19.

Recently, when Julia learned that Steve had learned that THE Kristy McNichol would be appearing at an celebrity autograph gig in Los Angeles, she told her dad he must go and that she would go with him.

And, by golly, it all worked out well as Steve, now in his 50s met Kristy, also in her 50s.

She's no longer an actress, but that's okay with Steve. He called his recent experience meeting Kristy "closure," cuz he's got the autograph and the pictures to prove it.

During the event, Steve and Julia met many other celebrities, including actress Shirley Jones.

I did not ask Steve during his visit yesterday whatever happened to the 400 photos, but I'm sure there's a story.

For now, he's just happily satisfied that he's been "pictured with Kristy."

Great for you, Steve, and it was so nice of you to stop by to share the news.

In Lovestead garden news, I now have two baggies of raspberries in the freezer AND I've only just begun to pick this bumper crop which is treating me nicely by its gradual ripening.

Also, picked 12 blueberries last night. Last night's picking marked the first of another bumper berry crop.

As I write, Bill, Willie and Andrew are probably rolling on down the highway with Bill's drift boat attached to the pickup.

They're headed to the Kootenai River in Montana where they'll put in at the Yaak and drift on down to Twin Rivers campground, fly fishing all along the way.

It's the maiden voyage for the drift boat since it moved to Idaho from its original home in Montana where it got lots of action.

Bill is a big fan of the bestseller Boys in the Boat.

Today's adventure may be a little different from the U-Dub rowers who won Olympic gold in 1936, but these boys in the boat will surely get their own rewards on this beautiful summer day out there on the river.

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I can't wait for Bill to come home, cuz I'm just dying to tell him about this brand new concept touted by that same guy who told America over the weekend about those airplanes winning battles during the Revolutionary War.

Yesterday, during an environmental address, Trump talked about a brand new concept which will ensure NO MORE FOREST FIRES.

He said it's a term those forestry folks in California (and surely nowhere else in America) had never heard of: FOREST MANAGEMENT.

When I tell Bill about forest management and that there will be NO MORE FOREST FIRES because they're gonna clean the forests and manage them, I know he'll be really excited.

Heck, he may even go get a broom and start sweeping out in the woods.

On that note, maybe I'd better go get my broom and start a little domestic management to make sure the house doesn't burn down.

Happy Tuesday.