Enduring friendships shine at reunions
On Friday, Coeur d’Alene High School’s Class of 1970 will gather at Bardenay for their 48th high school reunion. 48th you ask? For our tenth, 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 half-decade. Now our classmates know that each and every year, on the last Friday of July, old Vikings from 1970 will come together for a no-host, one-night celebration.
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. We talk about current events, grandchildren, retirement 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.
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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Welcome home this weekend to Coeur d’Alene High School’s Class of 1978 for your 40th reunion!
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When it’s cold outside, we bundle up. This week the best advice is to jump in the lake!
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Things to Do Highlights:
Tonight, Spaghetti Dinner fundraiser, 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. to benefit Eddie Taylor as he battles Stage-4 glioblastoma. $10 adults, $6 for age 12 and younger. Silent auction, dessert auction. Post Falls American Legion banquet hall.
Friday is the Full Moon Bike Ride starting at 9 p.m. at Slate Creek Brewing for all ages, abilities at a no-sweat pace. One-hour ride. 1710 N. Fourth St., Coeur d’Alene. Pre-ride at 7 p.m. includes free barbecue.
Hayden’s celebration begins Friday afternoon at McIntire Family Park, with the Hayden’s Got Talent All Star Show, car show, live music, Saturday pancake feed and the Hayden Days Parade. www.cityofhaydenid.us.
St. Vinny’s DIY Block Party, Saturday 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Walnut Avenue between First and Government Way. Re-purposing demos, pop-up market, food trucks and free!
On Saturday The Coeur d’Alene Resort Golf Course hosts The Showcase of food, beverage, music and celebrity golf for a great cause — benefiting 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 $10, 765-4000.
Sunday, 1-4 p.m., Veterans Appreciation at American Legion Post 143 in Post Falls. Family fun, live music with Bitter Oak, hot dogs, hamburgers. Open to the public.
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Happy Birthday today to Mary Lou Dion, Larry Schwenke, Robin Schlotthauer, Alenna Blakeslee, Rich Nicolson and Karen King, and tomorrow to Doreen Mack, Marla Giese, Deb Miller, Marlo Gerber, Nick Epstein, Kelsey Wood and Lois Johnson. On Friday my brother-in-law Rick Scharf, Ann Beutler, Larry Trosper, Gail Everson, Brady Campbell, Shelly Zollman, Rich May, Brian Thormahlen and Janet Pulis take another trip around the sun. Saturday is a special day for Jan Nelson, Bekah Manderscheid, Cathy Werner, Zack White, Hank Wayman, John Hensley, Debra Wunderlich, Norm Loftin, Darrell Rickard and Karen Englestad. On Sunday Mark Anthony, Tanya Peugh, Alisa Loftin-Ward and Sam Taylor. Putting on their party hats Monday are Sharmon Schmitt, Nicole Choquette, 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 and Tab Bray.
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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.