Happenings in MY TOWN

It's been a long time since I used to drive my Ford pickup along side this Sandpoint icon, then park near the loading dock, walk to the window and ask for a sack or two of oats and maybe a couple of blocks of salt.

I remember looking at the fliers on the wall while waiting for one of the Co-Op granary workers---often covered with grain dust---to go to the stacks of grain sacks, bring out my order and load it in the back of my pickup. 

At the time, most advertising on that bulletin board involved horses, cows or pigs, dogs for sale, trade or breeding, trainers, upcoming horse events or maybe even hay for sale.

It's been even longer since my mother used to pull in to a building across the parking lot, park and take her weekly supply of fresh Guernsey cream to the creamery. 

After the transaction of her handing over the cream and the clerk handing her some money and returning her cream bucket, she might head just around the block to IGA to spend her creamery cash and then some on groceries.

Even longer ago and for decades, that church (now an events center) across the street from the Co-Op parking lot served as the setting for my Baptism, First Communion AND partial Confession, Confirmation and marriage, along with a whole lot of Sunday Masses. 

Times have changed.  

Yesterday afternoon I went to Evans Bros. Coffee to for a visit with a former student who's here for the holidays from his present home in Toulouse, France.  

While waiting for him, I spent some time perusing the outdoor bulletin board across the lot from the old granary loading dock. 

Amazement is not quite the word for my reaction to seeing ALL the entertainment, instructional or recreational possibilities or employment opportunities available for locals. 

From the assortment, I surmised that, these days, locals and their unique interests comprise a substantially different mix from most Sandpoint residents of yesteryear.     

Yesteryear coffee meetings usually happened at Connie's or the Pastime where full meals of breakfast, lunch and dinner were also available.  

How many coffee shops do we now have in Sandpoint where mentioning the word "Folgers" might sound foreign in the mix of all the South American and African varieties and even local blends available?

Along with coffee, come a few light treats or desserts. Plan to go to one of the numerous watering holes or restaurants to get your meal. 

When I walked inside Evans Bros. to order a cup of coffee, I was pleased to see Meghan behind the counter and Daniel off to the side----both former students. So, along with contemporary Sandpoint comes intermittent moments with familiar faces. 

"Just Americano black, medium," I said to Meghan who then quizzed me on some options.  I can't remember them all, but I do remember her generosity in offering some tastings, one from Ethiopia. 

Still not sure what specific blend they gave me, but it tasted good to me (the old school teacher who figures coffee's coffee), especially in that big round porcelain cup.  

Garrett soon came through the door, which, during our extensive visit, constantly opened and closed with small groups of customers walking to the counter for their favorite brew.  

Did I know any of them?  

No.

Our visit turned out twofold.  We had a purpose.  Garrett, who's an engineer with Airbus in France, has a lovely project on the horizon, dealing with his hometown. I've been helping him with some ideas and the wording.

Garrett enjoys conversation, as do I.  So, I'd say three quarters of our time dealt with a lot of back-and-forth about Sandpoint, stories in one of my books, people we know in common, family, etc. 

One topic receiving significant discussion involved exactly what we were doing:  conversation.  

Somewhere in the mix of our back-and-forth commentary, I noted that conversation seems to be fast becoming a dying art. 

Also, Garrett suggested that the slow death of conversation, thanks in a large part to various sizes of computer screens, could be a reason that society in general can't see eye to eye on much of anything. 

That's cuz they don't often see eye to eye, literally. 

I think he's hit on something there, especially as I notice these days when I actually walk away from what has been wonderful discourse with friends. 

Part involves the actual desire to talk to other people.  Part involves putting the phones away in social situations.  Much of it involves actually talking to and "LISTENING" to people where we actually do see eye to eye, again literally. 

We don't have to always agree, but if we demonstrate a degree of respect for those who have opposing views and actually LISTEN while they contribute, we're likely to make some progress in casting aside the divisions that have so crippled our nations, regions, communities, sometimes our families and our world. 

We also might even learn something.  

Those fliers on the wall outside Evans Bros. coffee indicated to me that if I were to take advantage of every opportunity tacked on the board, first, it would take some time and secondly, I could acquire a smorgasboard of new skills, ideas and outlooks to add to my lifelong learning. 

I'm not sure everything on the wall would be my choice, but I respect the fact that there IS a little bit something for everyone besides pigs for sale or pasture to rent. 

One other highlight of Garrett and my conversation focused on his experience at Sandpoint High School in the early 1990s.  

He suggested that unlike many other small communities, Sandpoint offers a rich diversity in lifestyle, socioeconomic levels, talents, challenges and perspectives that, for high school-aged students, arms them with a firm foundation for heading out into the world. 

For a guy who's experienced his share of the world through his career and while living abroad for 17 years, I think Garrett nailed it with that observation, and I totally agreed, tacking on just one addition:  resilience. 

I think if a survey were taken, focusing on notable personal traits among community members, among our Sandpoint area population---both old and new---resilience would rank right up there with the longtime and consistent Sandpoint staple:  caring about others.

Twas great conversation, every bit as good as that cup of coffee. 

As for the fliers tacked on the outside wall at Evans Bros., betcha can't guess which one I'll pick.  

Happy Wednesday.  Have yourself a good give and take, eye-to-eye conversation, especially while gobbling down that turkey. 

Then, go learn the ukelele!