All in a day: more Christmas cards sent, a new batch of blueberry, raspberry, huckleberry jelly processed, a quick trip to town, 2019 Christmas tree up and decorating almost complete.
In the midst of stringing lights and selecting spots for ornaments, I visited via Facebook messenger with one of my table partners in study hall at Sandpoint High School circa 1962-63.
I think Carol Kramer was a junior when she sat next to me at a table not too far from Mr. Ray Gapp's desk in the SHS library.
Mr. Gapp was our study hall teacher at the time. Actually, he didn't do any teaching during study hall. Instead, he just did his best to keep us quiet.
With deep appreciation, I often say that Mr. Gapp taught me the most important skill I've used throughout my lifetime: typing.
Most of the students in Mr. Gapp's classes could never keep up with those fortunate enough to have Miss Thalenhorst, who later became Mrs. Benson.
She had her own amazing method and kept those kids fingers on high octane during their class hour. Some reached speeds of 60-70 words a minute, maybe even more.
Meanwhile, we of the Ray Gapp classes, poked along, but happily we still learned our basic typing skills, which I use every single day.
We were always excited and ready to go once we walked into the typing room.
Pretty much every day, before the final bell for class rang, the room on the parking-lot side of the school was alive with obnoxious cacophony as approximately 30 carriage returns on Royal typewriters banged and hardly in unison.
Then, after several "Leave your machines alone please," we finally settled back and let Mr. Gapp teach us about "fjf space," etc.
Mr. Gapp may have had more of a challenge maintaining the proper atmosphere during study hall hour. After all, when folks like Carol Kramer and Marianne Brown sat next to each other, that could try anyone's patience, even laid-back and quiet Mr. Gapp.
Well, Ray Gapp passed away a few years ago, so Carol and I didn't need to worry about his monitoring our back-and-forth last night as she told me more about a Christmas card from Sandpoint in the 1950s she had posted on Facebook yesterday.
Turns out her hubby Kim painted the card depicting a small segment of First Avenue in downtown. Kim studied at Burnley School in Seattle, later the Seattle Art Institute.
To say I loved this piece of work, which included the Kramer's downtown store, and to note that, once again, I was overflowing with hometown nostalgia upon first seeing the scene would be an understatement.
So many priceless memories of our growing-up years in this community.
Kim's wonderful piece of art brings that wonderful era of our youthful history alive, especially when Carol wrote, "That lady in the blue dress was my mom.
"She walked down to Havie’s grocery store from the shop to get something to go with her coffee."
As always, it was great fun visiting with Carol during my tree decorating session last night. For anyone who may not know, she also has a famous brother called Jerry.
You may have heard of the NFL Hall of Fame Green Bay Packer guard.
Thanks, Carol, for sharing, and tell Kim once more that I'm impressed with his talent.
Also, during a busy day yesterday, the usual antics at the pasture fence took place as Liam worked hard to keep those horses from getting out of hand. Even Kiwi helped for a while.
The horses don't always oblige Liam's wishes, but his efforts were pretty effective when I'd look out the kitchen window while stirring my jelly to see one of them eating the fence.
A trip to the sliding glass door to summon Liam was usually all it took to distract them and their busy teeth.
Occasionally during their winter boredom, they take time out to put on a show.
And, those moments are always so pretty, reminding me why I love horses.
Happy Tuesday. Back to the holiday to do's.
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