Reunions: Celebration of enduring friendship
On Friday, Coeur d’Alene High School Class of 1970 will gather at Bardenay for its 47th high school reunion. Forty-seventh, you ask? For our 10th, 20th, 30th and 40th class reunions we did the traditional decade thing. At 45 years we decided every five years would be good — who doesn’t love returning home to this beautiful place in the summer?
After the 45th we decided that we should set a date and gather every year, which is great for those who for whatever reason couldn’t attend every decade or decade and a half. Now our classmates know that the last Friday of July each and every year old Vikings from 1970 will come together for a no-host celebration. We have a great resource in our class president for life, Tim Shepperd, who has amassed email addresses and who administrates a CHS Class of ’70 Facebook page for staying in touch with classmates far and wide throughout the year.
We also meet up with whomever is in town or available the second Wednesday of each month, rotating locations throughout Coeur d’Alene, Hayden and Post Falls. Usually there are close to a couple dozen people in attendance, not always the same people, again a great opportunity if a classmate from out of state happens to be home.
What those who are celebrating their 10th or 20th reunions might not realize just yet is how enduring and valued relationships and shared history become as the years go by. Our old Vikings from ’70 share a lot of laughs, not so much reveling in the glory days of athletic or academic prowess, or even wishing that cheerleading outfit still fit or that our hair wasn't gray or scarce. We talk about current events, grandchildren, retirement plans since this is our collective year of turning 65 and some days have to laugh out loud at all of the “parts” stories — which ones are falling apart or bionic. We’ve consoled each other at the loss of parents and the loss of fellow classmates. We are comfortable in our own skin, even if that skin now sports a wrinkle or 20.
It’s a bountiful blessing to still be surrounded by a village of Vikings in the journey of life. These are my people and I’m grateful.
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Two people with ties to our community have a head start in their “What I Did This Summer” essays. Preston Lightle, 11, finished second at Golf Canada National Future Links Canadian Finals at Glen Abbey, Ontario last Saturday. There were 658 golfers in the qualifying rounds to play in the finals. Preston was born in Coeur d’Alene and his grandparents, Larry and Charlotte Carstensen live in Post Falls.
Career Navy officer LDO Brian Bugge (PFHS Class of 2000) is being transferred from Gig Harbor, Wash., to Honolulu this month. Brian has had a life-long dream to sail across the Pacific. He set sail on a 36-foot sailboat with a crew of four on July 6 and today at 4 p.m. HST should be arriving at Oahu. Says Brian, “My goal in life is to never have a bucket list, instead completing adventures in life as opportunities arise.” Check out his journal of the Stay Gold at www.svstaygold.com.
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Davis Donuts on North Fourth Street in Coeur d’Alene has long been the gold standard for witty reparteé on a reader board. The Oval Office’s reader board in Post Falls does a good job of amusing passersby on Spokane Street. Now Rathdrum has upped its game thanks to a Highway 53 business, Rathdrum Country Store, which has a two-sided reader board. This week’s message, “I’m living in a drama free bubble today. Respect the bubble, people.” Flip side — “The chains on my mood swing just snapped. Run.” Well played, Country Store!
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Tonight Wine, Women and Shoes, 5:30 p.m. at The Coeur d’Alene Resort to benefit Idaho Youth Ranch. Info: www.winewomenshoes.com
Thursday, North Idaho's Got Talent Semi-Finals, free and open to the public. 6-8:30 p.m. at Garden Plaza in Post Falls. Friday is the finale of the competition from 6-8:30 p.m. at Victory City Church, 5073 E. 16th in Post Falls.
Friday night Rathdrum Parks and Rec hosts a free family concert at Majestic Park with the Moses Willey Band from 6-9 p.m. and Coeur d’Alene High School Class of 1970’s no-host annual reunion at Bardenay starts at 5 p.m.
Hayden’s two-day celebration begins Friday afternoon at McIntire Family Park, with the Kelly Hughes Band in concert that evening. Saturday a pancake feed and the Hayden Days Military Appreciation Parade start out the day of activities. Info: www.cityofhaydenid.us
On Saturday The Showcase of food, beverage, music and celebrity golf for a great cause, hosted by The Coeur d'Alene Resort Golf Course to benefit the Community Cancer Fund. The Showcase provides a fun opportunity for spectators to experience a day of dynamic activities with national celebrities playing a 9-hole exhibition. 10 a.m. and tickets start at $20, 765-4000.
Next Tuesday the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office is hosting the family-friendly National Night Out at Hayden City Park, 4-8 p.m.
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Happy Birthday today to Doreen Mack, Marla Giese, Deb Miller, Marlo Gerber, Nick Epstein, Kelsey Wood and Lois Johnson. The same tomorrow to my brother-in-law Rick Scharf, Ann Beutler, Larry Trosper, Gail Everson, Brady Campbell, Shelly Zollman, Rich May, Brian Thormahlen and Janet Pulis (50!).
Friday is a special day for Darrell Rickard, Jan Nelson, Bekah Manderscheid, Cathy Werner, Zack White, Hank Wayman, John Hensley, Debra Wunderlich, Norm Loftin and Karen Englestad.
On Saturday Mark Anthony, Tanya Peugh, Alisa Loftin-Ward and Sam Taylor. Putting on their party hats Sunday are Sharmon Schmitt, Nicole Coquette, Terra Karl, Dianne Ansbaugh, Kalie Bell, Brenna Meehan and Peggy Coleman.
Launching into a new year on the last day of July are Patricia Richardson, Bill Hamilton, Adam Durflinger, Mary Beth Broderick and Tab Bray.
On the first day of August, Rich Houser, Tatiana Harrison, Bev Moss, David Noordam, Duane Oliver, Patricia Kaufman, Dennis Harlan and Dodge Gonzales will be celebrating.
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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.