Forty years ago today our house on Great Northern Road burned down.
We lost pretty much everything, except a few green bags of garbage which were retrieved from the laundry room by neighbors trying to gather and save whatever they could.
We also thought we had lost Pink Cat, a stray that had wandered into our long driveway and adopted us.
Happily, the next morning, Pink Cat appeared from the rubble, kinda dirty but alive. My folks kept him for the rest of his life.
Our lives slowly came back together, especially when John Knowles and his crew built our replacement house within a few months.
Ironically, tomorrow, the community will say good bye to John. In our minds and, probably still appearing on the door of the house he built, there's an engraving giving thanks to John and to all who helped us through that tragedy.
We'll always remember and appreciate our friend John and we'll never forget the generosity of the Sandpoint community.
Two days ago, a Facebook friend named Debbie celebrated her birthday. Forty years ago, Debbie, then a senior at Sandpoint High School, donated her birthday money to a fund to help us get back on our feet.
Such gestures are never forgotten. They serve as everlasting reminders of the goodness and generosity of most members of the species we call humanity.
I always tread a little lightly on Dec. 20 of any year, remembering the fire and also remembering the same date a few years later when Willie rolled his grandfather's pickup on HWY 95 while on his way to Les Schwab to get snow tires.
His grandma had just turned over the keys a couple of miles away when this accident happened.
Fortunately, Bill was following behind and soon saw what had happened when the pickup was no longer visible on the highway. Even more fortunately, Willie was only shaken up.
A few months later, the pickup's engine caught on fire while parked beneath the willow tree at our old place.
On the day of Willie's accident, we did have some happy moments when we welcomed Annie back home from her six-month college exchange to New Zealand.
Ironically, we'll welcome her home from Seattle in a few hours, and, yes, we'll tread lightly and will be careful on the roads.
Dates and gestures stand out in this journey we call life.
Yesterday, Bill called and asked if I'd like to go to Bonners Ferry.
He was taking a forestry report from Inland Forest Management to the Boundary County Courthouse.
I had stuff to do, but a break from the "to do" list and other stressers sounded like a good idea.
So, we packed up dogs and off we went. While Bill was at the Courthouse, I walked around and took a few photos. We both agree that we love the Courthouse in Bonners Ferry.
Later, he went to Bonners Books and I took a few photos of downtown Bonners Ferry and holiday-related items on display at one of the local stores.
"Do you want to have dinner here?" he asked. Never one to turn down the opportunity of not cooking dinner, I, of course, said yes.
It was my first time at the Rusty Moose Tavern and Grill, and I doubt it will be my last.
Good food, great and friendly service and a comfortable setting.
Twas a nice way to end a spontaneous trip to the town we visit so often.
Plus, the Christmas decorations along Main Street in Bonners are pretty.
By day's end, Annie will be settling in for her Christmas week and Little Foster will be on top of the world, knowing his bestie is here.
Should be a good day.
Happy Friday.
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