Diary of a shut-in, Week 5
Although I describe my proverbial glass as overflowing for the most part, the weeks of isolation and lack of real-life contact with family and friends is taking a toll. My emotions have been right at the surface. It feels like mourning for the loss of so many things in our lives. By definition mourning is hurt, sorrow, anguish.
On Saturday I was broken-hearted to read in the Press an obituary for Paul Ferguson, who’d passed away on Wednesday last week. I knew Paul for a couple of decades-plus via our mutual involvement in the Post Falls Chamber of Commerce and Panhandle Area Council. The kind of guy who always had a smile on his face and did good deeds quietly.
Out of the blue last August I received an email from Paul thanking me for writing every year about my “coronary event” and urging people to listen to your body. In July Paul thought he might be having a stroke, immediately called his wife, Lisa, who called 911 and Paul was taken by ambulance to Kootenai Health. He had brain surgery to remove a tumor and in August was feeling positive about the outcome, although he admitted there were no guarantees.
“I’m not sure where I would be now if I had not heard your words “listen to your body” echoing in my mind.
Your faithful reader and friend, Paul”
Without a doubt it was the most touching response I’ve ever received in the nearly three decades of writing this column. I wish Paul could have had many more years but do know that in the time he had he was a blessing to many.
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Another loss rippling through our communities happened on Easter Sunday when John McGruder died. In his 77 years on earth John impacted untold number of lives. Married to his sweetheart, Kay, for 60 years, John was a girl dad, adored by daughters, Colleen Krajack, Patty Stanfield and Lisa Crumb.
I met John many years ago at his business, The Inkwell, and then through the years with his community involvement with the Coeur d’Alene Chamber Commodores, including accompanying and sometimes driving the parade float. John was a doer, a man of his word and a giver. An interesting note is that he received the Coeur d’Alene Citizen of the Year Award in 1990 and the Chamber’s Volunteer of the Year Award 20 years later. There was no resting on his laurels or fading off into the sunset for John. The world is a little less without his presence.
Both of these losses are a reminder that due to the pandemic restrictions to limit gathering size, no funerals are being held right now for anyone. No communal gathering to grieve with the families, to honor and pay respects until those restrictions are lifted. When that day comes I will be there to celebrate two lives well-lived and well-loved.
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Happy birthday today to Betsy Hawkins, Brian Walker, Denise Edmonds, Ian Waltz, Doug Harms, Dave Holmes, Clay Ownbey, Caroline Crollard, Tori Gray, Randy Teall, Kara Hicks and Judy Donner. Tomorrow birthday wishes to JD Dickinson, Leslie Gourley, Kevin Johnson, Kay Riplinger, Chris LaVoie and Tom Fisher. Friday Pat Krug, Betty Stone, Andre Ney, Blythe Templin, Jonna Harris-Bowman, Sheila McDaniel, Curtis Ormesher and Peggy Fairfield will celebrate.
On Saturday Anna Goodwin, Brad Dugdale, Chris Mueller, Pat Stroud, Rebecca Priano, Glenn Gatherer, Ryan Edmonds, John Cross, Branson McAlister and Lisa Johnson enjoy their special day. On Sunday Gerlinde Hamilton, Rich Piazza, Angie Hannon, Rick Seymour, Petrina Spellman, Carolyn Beard, Rick Gonzalez, Steve Adams, Charlie Staples, BreAnna Brunton and Joe Bodman will put on their party hats.
On Monday my mother Alice Rankin (89!), Hayden Hustoft, Rowan Bauman, Maritom Pickett, Sherry Mundt, Jerome Pollos, Scott Hough, Bill Hilbish, Sarah Gondo, Marcia Jimenez, Laura Warner, Sarah Myers, Blaise Koep and John M. Smith share a birthday. On Tuesday Gunnar Amos, Brent Hostetler, Sandy Langston, Ali Taylor, Larry Bird and Janet Johnson are taking another trip around the sun.
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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.