Firsthand view of historic attack
I've talked to and interviewed hundreds of people for decades' worth of columns, but this week was a first for sure.
On Monday morning, I had a Facebook Messenger conversation/interview with Josh Hissong, as he was traveling by bullet train from Milan to Rome.
Josh and his dad, Skip, are having the adventure of a lifetime, with an itinerary that includes a week in Paris, several days in Cannes, Nice and Antibes and culminates with a visit to Rome. Josh has traveled to France and Italy several times in the past three years, often for business; he's a partner with HDG.
This past summer after returning from his travels he began to plan a return trip with his dad. Skip has traveled to London, but not to Paris or Rome.
On New Year's Day, the pair headed across the pond, first stop Paris. On Jan. 6 they saw the sights in the third and fourth district neighborhoods, just northeast of the Bastille.
They were scheduled to fly to the French Riviera the next day. At their hotel the morning of their departure, they weren't sure what had happened - groups of guests were in tears as they watched the televisions in the lobby. Josh received a text from a friend and checked American news channels on his phone.
He described it as surreal to find himself near the epicenter of the tragic terrorist attacks in Paris. At the airport, people were understandably on edge, with everyone glued to their mobile phones.
"I was nervous until we landed at Cote d'Azur (French Riviera). The 'Je suis Charlie' signs started going up everywhere immediately. And the gatherings were everywhere," Josh said.
On Jan. 8, Skip celebrated his 68th birthday on a windy mountain road riding shotgun in a Porsche 356 overlooking the cliffs of the French Riviera. Those who know Skip know he's an aficionado of speed and Porsches in particular. Josh said he felt like a kid in a candy store.
Saturday, Skip and Josh split to do some sightseeing with Skip and took part in the huge march along the Promenade de' Angels in Nice with 30,000 people. The next day he bought a copy of the Nice newspaper with a full page photograph of the sea of people on the cover.
This father/son adventure has definitely been one neither will soon forget.
Local quilters will participate in Quilts of Valor National Sew Day from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 7, in the St. George Catholic Church basement. Quilts of Valor are gifted to combat veterans or active duty military who have combat service. If you'd like to participate in a variety of ways on National Sew Day or for more information on the Quilts of Valor program, contact Jerene Kindley, 777-0474 or 755-5338.
Happy birthday today to Teresa Wasileski, Addison Baltzell, Judy Eichelberger, Anita Weaver, Claudia Elliott, Jason Wereley and Jaden Alexander. Tomorrow, Gayle Erickson, Paula Laws, Betsy Anderson, Kelli Ormesher and Jim Roberge will celebrate.
On Friday, Kenny Peterson, Anita Millward, John Keener, Shelly Robson, Kelly Blaski, Charlie Kimball, Mary Mort, Nick Dimico, Bill Miller and Elaine Cook will put on their party hats. Kurt Gomer and Charles Newman will have a slice of cake on Saturday.
Jan. 18 birthdays are shared by Travis Chaney, Mike Webb, BJ Holinka, Amanda Kralicek, Kristy Walsh, Mike Taylor, Dustin Peacock and Nina Tikalsky.
On Monday Austin Isakson, Wade McLean, Roy Carlson, Gavin Krieg and Terry Drapeau take another trip around the sun. Bob Short blows out his 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's been voted Best Local Writer by the readers of the North Idaho Business Journal multiple times. 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.