We're some Bloomsday late bloomers
Many Main Street readers are veterans of Bloomsday and I've always enjoyed seeing the photos and reading the stories of their 7.46 mile adventure. This year I'll experience the excitement of walking the course with 57,000 other people, including my sisters, Janna and Ronna, my daughters, Alyssa, Melani and Sarah, and my niece, Emily. A large group of our OptiFit family of weight loss warriors are also joining in for this Bloomsday.
I've never really understood the competitive walking, running allure, although I appreciate the dedication these folks exhibit. I also must admit a bit of apprehension about my physical ability to make it to the Bloomsday finish in time to still qualify for the coveted finisher's T-shirt. Janna and I have a modest goal ... to look that giant buzzard on Doomsday Hill in the eye and make it to the finish line. :)
My recent trip to London provided good training, with the miles of walking through Heathrow and across the city as well as time on the treadmill and walking the Centennial Trail and neighborhoods at home ... I'm as ready as I'll ever be. Janna and I will be carrying 120 pounds less collectively than we were last year at this time so it's all good.
If you have any tips for us Bloomie newbies, email them to me. I'll post some on More Main Street before Sunday.
The Main Street Birthday Club has become a staple of this column through the years but this is the first time I've had the opportunity to wish a 52-year-old reader a Happy 1st Birthday. Dave Chamberlain, CHS Class of '76, will celebrate his first year of his new life with his new heart on Friday. On April 29, 2010 Dave received a heart transplant at the University of Washington Medical Center. I visited with Dave on Monday and he looks fabulous. Here's to many more happy birthdays Dave!
This Saturday there are two great events to enjoy ... the Post Falls Distinguished Young Woman of the Year program features 17 incredible high school juniors vying for nearly $5,000 in scholarships. The event 6 p.m. at the Arena at PFHS.
Opera Coeur d'Alene is holding "A Grand Night for Singing" gala at the Coeur d'Alene Resort. There's an incredible line-up of opera cabaret featuring audience favorites from the past decade. Mistress of Ceremonies is the incomparable Marlo Faulkner. Info at 691-1305.
Happy birthday today to Bridget Vellone! Tomorrow my high school friends, Martin and Mardell Teall aka Tuffy and Tootie, celebrate along with Star Hart, Linette Freeman, Glorie Ward, Larry Locke, Kristina Lallatin and Hailee Bush, who's turning 5! On Friday, Janet Haakenson and Emily LaCharity are the birthday girls. April 30 birthdays are shared by Jai Nelson, Keith Ekness, Louise Zimmerman and Luke Griffin. May 1 is the birthdate of Jeri DeLange, Kathleen Kennedy and Diane Duncan. Randy Hurt and John DeLuca are Monday's birthday boys and Judy Berndt will blow out her candles on May 3!
THERE'S MORE: Photos and tidbits on More Main Street each week There's an album of photos from my recent trip to London if you'd like to get primed for the Royal Wedding. There's a link also for adding your birthday to the Main Street Birthday Club.
Kerri Rankin Thoreson is a member of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists and the former publisher of the Post Falls Tribune. She was voted Best Local Writer for 2010 by the readers of the North Idaho Business Journal. Main Street appears every Wednesday in The Press. More Main Street blog is at http://moremainstreet.blogspot.com. Listen to Main Street Monday on KVNI AM1080. Kerri can be reached at [email protected]