Reflecting on marriage, milestones

A quarter century can be measured in years but it's the memories that tell the story. Yesterday Bert and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary. We've lived a lifetime in those years, adding sons-in-law and three grandsons to our family of girls. There have been losses and victories and milestones and a tear or two. Life.

When we married, it was a first for Bert, a brave soul to also make such a commitment to raising three daughters, two of whom were teenagers when we said, "I do." Now, after all this time I can't imagine a life before he came into ours.We share the same anniversary with Anna and Mike Pearce and during a visit this week realized that the commonality of our quarter century is feeling blessed. It doesn't matter when or for how long, just blessed to find the one person who will lift you up, make you laugh, and make home the safe harbor it's intended to be.

***Coeur d'Alene's Jon and Nancy Mueller found themselves with an unexpected front row seat to one of the most devastating natural disasters in anyone's memory while on a trip to Japan. At their hotel in Tokyo when the earthquake hit, the next days were spent enduring evacuations, numerous aftershocks and concern about getting a flight back home. Like thousands of others in Japan, Jon relied upon Facebook to post updates for family and friends.

After no small amount of ingenuity and Divine Intervention, Jon and Nancy were able to board a flight on Saturday and touched down in Spokane mid-day on Sunday. While seated on the plane, with take-off imminent, Jon posted the Facebook status of the week, "Wheels up and into the night. First star to the right, boys, and straight on to the morn ..."***

After the fabulous Grease Sing-a-Long at NIC on Saturday night we joined friends at Capones. I was lamenting the fact that a busy Saturday afternoon prevented attending the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Coeur d'Alene. No sooner had I mentioned it than several uniformed members of the Coeur d'Alene Firefighters Pipes and Drums corp came through the door. What an unexpected treat to hear the bagpipes and drums during the impromptu indoor parade!***

Former Idaho State Senator Gordon Crow was back in town for a few days for the NW Chamber Leadership Conference at The Coeur d'Alene Resort. Gordon's now the President/CEO of the Laramie (Wyo.) Chamber of Commerce. We had a fun visit and he enjoyed seeing how Post Falls and Coeur d'Alene have thrived in the decade since he's called North Idaho home. ***

Last month Scott Shellman of Framework Meetings and Destinations was in Washington, DC with representatives from more than 200 destinations around North America for the Destinations Showcase. As a hosted buyer Scott was seated at a prime table for the opening night banquet, which featured Chubby Checker as the entertainment. The next thing Scott knew, he was invited up on stage to dance "The Twist" with the legend.

Says Scott: "Chubby still has a great voice, great moves, and he really got people going!" ***

Happy Birthday today to Lauralee Johnson, John Bujosa, Dottie Picard, Ken Kress, Kathy Riorden and KC Billetz. Sharing the day with St. Patrick tomorrow is Cody Peugh and Patti Conkle. On Friday Chris Englebrect and Bret Merry celebrate and Saturday Lance Bridges, Taryn Nichols, Kris Storey, Judy Brown and Megan Merry blow out the birthday candles. Sunday is the first day of Spring and Pam Houser and Julie Clark are the birthday girls. Monday birthdays will be celebrated by Diana Witherspoon, Brandie Chapman, Julie Billetz, Jacque Kress, Michelle Lewis, Jack Crawford and Evelyn Sanders. March 22 birthdays belong to Richard Anstine, Tyler Huft, Rob Carpenter, Bernie Currie, Pam Adams, Boston Pierce and Sean Harflinger. ***

THERE'S MORE: Photos and tidbits on More Main Street each week. There's a link also for adding your birthday to the Main Street Birthday Club!