Best of Times: Worst of Times

Yesterday was a pretty great day in some parts of America, including North Idaho. 

The sun was shining. 

A breeze was blowing.

Gardens were yielding.

Flowers kept blooming. 

The Festival was drawing yet another large crowd for a Jackson Browne concert.

Lake Pend Oreille was teeming with boats and its usual stunning beauty. 

Old Ice House Pizzeria at Hope was drawing its usual fun crowd of pizza lovers, including the Youngdahl family who were celebrating Lauralee's birthday. 

Both Ma and Pa Osprey in the nest near the Ice House were enjoying some "stay-at-home" time.

Trail 120 to Bee Top Mountain was looking very inviting with its brand new bridge over the clean, clear water of Spring Creek. 

At dusk, that August sun put on a lovely grand finale as it dipped behind the Selkirk Mountains. 

Yes, it was a pretty great day, to say the least.

Nonetheless, America wasn't so great in El Paso, Tex. 

This morning it's not so great in Dayton, Ohio.

So sad that least 29 more innocent people here in America will never see ripe cucumbers or pretty flowers or a babbling brook or a gorgeous lake scene. 

These innocents will never again enjoy visiting with friends or celebrating with family or shopping for those school supplies or enjoying a night out on the town----all thanks to  sick minds, inspired by sick, hate-filled, inciteful words and a gun.

And, those who survived both massacres---they will never ever be the same again. 

Hard to think of the greatness of America when this stuff keeps happening. 

So so sad.