On a Sunday

 

Bill suggested that we go west.

Coming home from church, he had noticed more blue sky and sun that direction. 

So, that's what he, Foster and I did, as we set out on our second Sunday drive of 2023.

Sunday drives in the winter time became a staple when my brothers and I were going through the formative years of our Batch One existence. 

In later years, Batch Two would fill up the car even more whenever Harold would direct the car east toward Montana. 

In those early years, Mother and Harold had only three of us to keep entertained aka not fighting. 

I always got to sit in the middle on the hump while Mike and Kevin sat on either side.  

I think the arrangement was twofold:  Mike and Kevin were older and got the windows.  Plus, with me in the middle, I could serve as the punching bag. 

Mother and Harold made up a game to keep our focus off from crowding, punching or pinching. 

As documented in my first book, the game was called "Count the Deer," and it usually commenced once we reached the highway. 

The object was to spot the most deer, live ones, that is, along either side of the car. 

Kevin usually won, but we all competed feverishly to find those deer, which were often camouflaged amidst the snow and trees and brush. 

Our reward for being good and only uttering, "There's one!" came when Mother, sitting in the front seat, pulled out three bacon thins from a box and handed them to each of us. 

Well, maybe we got two bacon thins apiece, but those were different times when a box of bacon thins had to last a week or at least until Mother's next trip to town. 

Fast forward 60-plus years.  

Bill and I didn't take bacon thins yesterday.  In fact, for once, we hadn't lined our pockets or filled baggies with M and M peanuts and chips and other junk food like we usually do. 

We fasted on yesterday's drive, as did Foster because we had not planned to be gone very long. 

We stopped twice while following the sun and the blue sky.  Just east of Priest River and past one of my favorite lifelong highway views of the Kaniksu Stock Ranch barn, we pulled off at the Crystal Lake dock.  

Cattails abounded, as did crusty snow. Stepping through the blend of snow and occasional bare ground was okay but challenging at times. 

Foster found a spot to relieve himself, while I snapped photos.

When we reached Priest River, Bill turned left just inside town toward the Pend Oreille River.  

"Why don't we park and walk around town," I then suggested.  Maybe this would be a new discovery for winter time recreation in walkable areas. 

With basically clear sidewalks and streets and minimal downtown activity on this quiet Sunday afternoon, the two oldsters and their little dog enjoyed a leisurely stroll along the Priest River store fronts. 

As we walked past The Jammer, a couple came out the door.  She immediately pointed at Foster, asking what kind of dog he was. 

She also told us that Foster was just the size and breed that she wanted.

"He likes to sit in your lap and cuddle?" she asked. 

"Yes, he does," I answered. 

They eventually went on their way with some information about where they might find a mini Aussie like Foster.  We continued our stroll. 

I'm pretty sure that yesterday marks the first time I have ever walked the streets of Priest River.  Normally, our visits to the home of the Spartans are drive-throughs.  

We loved looking at the window and door displays and especially the sidewalk sandwich board, offering us the opportunity to alleviate at least two problems listed in the query. 

I've always been able to answer that "yes, I've got fat," and it's been since the days of "count the deer" since I may have had acne. 

Tags? Possibly.

 But absolutely no tattoo regret!

After returning to the pickup, we took a spin through Newport.  Maybe next trip we'll get out and walk the streets. 

It would soon be time for chores, so we headed home, glad that we had taken in some quality sunshine and some fun local pride in downtown Priest River.

We did spot three deer during the trip and keeping up a habit established long ago, announced their presence. 

At home, we took care of our hunger with pulled pork sandwiches and potato salad while watching the last of the 49'ers-Cowboys football game. 

Twas a nice Sunday and definitely a nice new activity to walk and explore downtown streets of neighboring towns in the winter time.

 

Happy Monday.