Wedding day ends with false alarm
Kootenai County Fire and Rescue Cpt. Jeryl Archer has been a firefighter for 22 years. On Saturday at the Jacklin Arts and Cultural Center, he became a brand-new husband and there was a definite theme going on when he exchanged vows with Sheri Suponch.
The groom’s side of the aisle featured fire extinguishers, the bride wore fire-engine-red shoes, the groom in full uniform, the traditional wedding cake cutting done with an ax and the decorated vehicle for the couple’s departure from the old church was a 1943 Seagraves fire truck.
Later in the evening the newlyweds bid farewell to their guests and headed to Spokane for their wedding night at the historic Davenport Hotel. In an ironic twist, when they arrived the hotel was surrounded by Spokane Fire Department equipment and the hotel was in the process of being evacuated. It turned out to be a false alarm and the wedding night didn’t go up in smoke but you know the Archers must have had a brief moment of thinking, “wow, what a welcome!”
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Friday night during a lull in Olympic action, I was showing Bert some photos and posts on my Facebook page from my cellphone. Looking at my profile we were joking about the choices for describing a user's relationship. There's quite a list, including single, married, in a relationship, engaged, divorced, widowed, in a civil union, in an open relationship and it’s complicated. I've never had that particular item checked on my profile. He shook his head and questioned who would even read that or care. In a moment of silliness he said I should check "it's complicated" and see if anyone notices.
Yowza! In the hour that was on my profile and we were happily watching the Olympics, a lot of people noticed and commented, including our adult grandson. I deleted the entire post after assuring the grandson we were doing fine and not to worry.
Over the weekend we had people ask us if everything was all right and I've received
messages asking me the same thing. I took to Facebook to apologize for underestimating the reach of social media. It was just a silly thing we did while being silly but truly we're good. Thirty years and five months worth of good and we're still finding things to laugh about every day. We just won't take our silliness to Facebook the next time. Even the boomer generation needs to remember that social media posts can have unintended consequences.
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Quote of the week comes from Paulette Fabian. While we were visiting with a woman who was new to Idaho I mentioned loving the four seasons we enjoy here. Said Paulette, “There are five seasons: summer, winter, spring, fall and guests.” I guess it’s to be expected when you live in such a beautiful place as we do.
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Weekend highlights:
On Saturday three former Coeur d’Alene High School performers will reunite in song for By the Light of the Moon Cabaret at the Jacklin Arts and Cultural Center. Aaron Baldwin and Jessi Little (2009) and Madison Leonard (2010) are traveling from Boise, Seattle and Chicago, respectively. That’s a lot of talent on one stage for this show! Tickets at www.lauralittletheatricals.com
Saturday and Sunday the sixth annual Sophie’s Sluggers Homer Dome co-ed softball tournament takes place at Majestic Park in Rathdrum, benefiting childhood cancer kids.
Ironman Coeur d’Alene No. 14 on Sunday where a few thousand really dedicated humans will put themselves to an incredible test of endurance. There are still volunteer slots available at www.ironmancda.com.
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For 43 years the boys of summer, aka the Birthday Boys, Art Flagan, Warren Bakes and Ed Hatter have celebrated their August birthdays together. The fourth member of their group, Bill Stamps, passed away in 2014 but will be duly toasted by his friends. Here’s to enduring friendships and happy birthdays!
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Happy Birthday today to Amber Malloy, Jenna Morrison, JR Conrow, Kristin Largent, Cynthia Rayner, Terri Seymour, John Gertenbach, Brandee Peacock, Linda Mannschreck, Christina Gardner and Lugene Broadsword.
Sunny 8/18 celebrants are Jim Hail, III, Brandi Meeks, Jaqueline Dickinson, Jake Medlock, Sarah Andrews, Toni Prince, Marissa Davenport, Corrine Larsen, Keva Wolfe, Andrea Sadler (40!), Julie Pierce and Althea Carpenter.
On Friday Vicky Jo Carey, Scott Noordam, Amy Elder, Peter Woods and Frank Garcia put on their party hats.
Mary Condie, Nancy Scofield, Elaine Carda, David Buerge, Louise Gillespie, Christina Gardner, Gene Colley (85!) and Art Elliott will have super Saturday birthdays.
Sunday Crystal Shofner-Moore, Jared Phay (40!), Matthew Behringer, Doris McCaulley, Mike Warren, Ed Hatter and Kelly Chadderdon do the birthday dance.
On Monday Brett Seright, Leanne Campbell, Mary Gomer, Cathy Smith, David Walrath, Cecilia Peterson and Lilliana Raynor are celebrating.
On Aug. 23 wish a happy birthday to Chad Chalich, Beth Dagastine, Debbie Berger, Eileen Mann, Bobby Bunch, Art Flagan, Donnie Goodnature and Rod Robins.
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Kerri Rankin Thoreson is a member of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists and the former publisher of the Post Falls Tribune. Main Street appears every Wednesday in The Press and Kerri can be contacted on Facebook or via email mainstreet@cdapress.com. Follow her on Twitter @kerrithoreson.