First selfie to celebrate a century
I've been fortunate to know and interview a number of centenarians through the years and it's always fascinating to hear personal frames of reference that are like reading a history book. Hazel Fox hit the century mark on Saturday and I stopped by her celebration at Garden Plaza. She's a delight and was thoroughly enjoying the company of five generations of her family and friends, old and new.
I asked if longevity was a family trait and she said her parents lived to their 80s. She has been active for most of her life including well into the past three decades, bowling being one of her favorite pastimes. At 97 she made the trek with family to see the Settler's Grove ancient cedars in the Silver Valley for the first time. Friends remarked that she's very social and always has a smile and kind word for people.
Trying to think of something Hazel may not have done in her 100 years, I asked if she had ever taken a "selfie." She hadn't a clue what I was talking about so I took out my smart phone and said let's do it! We snapped a few shots and I showed her the photos. She laughed and said, "I'm sure looking my age today." Which she certainly didn't and doesn't. So I posted the selfie to my Facebook page and then showed it to her. Her 100th birthday selfie received more than 100 "likes" and a dozen comments in just a matter of hours.
Bryan Elementary principal Kristin Gorringe was on the treadmill at Peak Fitness Monday evening when a man came up and said he knew she worked at a school and he didn't know what to do to make the holidays brighter for children in need. He gave her cash and asked that she made sure to help some of them.
Kristin was touched and promised the gentleman that she would do just that. She and I agree that there are some really good people in this world.
Our very own fabulous Red Hot Mamas are in NYC getting ready for their appearance in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade! Their entry will follow the Paddington Bear balloon down the parade route and according to RHM sources they should hit the TV cameras after the 12th commercial break. So exciting!
Big doings in Coeur d'Alene this weekend with the Christmas Parade and lighting on Friday night and the kickoff of Kootenai Health's Festival of Trees events. I'm looking forward to a 10th year of emceeing my favorite Festival of Trees celebration with the North Idaho Eye Institute's Senior Social on Saturday morning.
And you'll want to be sure to see Ellen Travolta's "I Remember Christmas" musical review at The Coeur d'Alene Resort during the season and Laura Little's "Traditions of Christmas" show at the Kroc Center in December. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in our little corner of the world!
Why shop local? Local businesses pay local taxes, provide paychecks, donate and contribute to organizations and events throughout the year. If not for local businesses, who would be donating to the auctions, raffles, scholarships, grad night parties, senior centers, charitable causes, youth sports sponsorships, etc.? This Christmas season let your gift giving pay it forward in our communities ... SHOP LOCAL!
"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them." - John F. Kennedy
Happy Birthday today to Tom Torgerson, Marilyn Fisher, Sandy Osburn and Renee Cook. Sharing a Thanksgiving birthday this year are Sue Hutter, Ian Martin and Bob Eachon. Maybe getting up early to shop on their Black Friday birthday are Katie King, Cody and Tristan Webb, Breanna Joyner and Judy Dahl.
On Saturday, Amanda Hildebrant Robinson, Gary Ingram, Shirley Thagard, Carol Covell and Carol Ann Eachon will celebrate another year. On Sunday, Kevin Ekness, Carol Kreighbaum, Kevin Krieg and Cindy Scinto will make their annual trip around the sun.
The first day of December will find Chris Pappas, Marge Chadderdon, Jay Bremner and Connie Price putting on their party hats. Brandi Hague, Lois Covill, Hope Connally (90!) and George Nagrone are blowing out the candles on Tuesday.
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 by the readers of the North Idaho Business Journal. Main Street appears every Wednesday in The Press and Kerri can be contacted on Facebook or via email [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @kerrithoreson.