Diary of a shut-in, Week 6
The name of this column for decades has been Main Street. For quite a few years my personalized license plates have read MAIN ST. The phrase Main Street describes, collectively, everyday working class people and small business owners; and, geographically, a primary commerce area of a small town.
Some of the most fearless and optimistic people I know are small business owners and entrepreneurs. To start a business requires both attributes, along with a belief that the products or services to be provided are different or better than anything already available.
Possessing a willingness to take responsibility for the livelihoods of employees while making a living for your own family is a requisite. Add to that a generous heart to contribute to causes and activities that benefit the community.
While we’re experiencing circumstances that seem like fiction but are unfortunately very much real life, it’s my hope that business owners will remember and channel all of the attributes from the first day you opened the door of your business. Know that what has happened in 2020 is not anything anyone could have predicted and included in a business plan.
Know that we see you, we feel your pain and when your doors open again we will gratefully and enthusiastically do business with those who are, and always have been, the lifeblood of Main Street and our community.
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This past Friday morning I posted my weekly quarantine video, Formal Friday, on Facebook. On that day I wore a floor-length, royal blue velvet gown and fancy earrings and necklace. In the comments Pam Pereira said I should come drive through the Kinder Magic between 11-11:30 a.m. where she would be dressed as Tinkerbell for a parking lot parade with her young students. I pondered that for about 30 seconds and thought yes, I will!
I gilded the lily by adding a tiara and headed over. Seeing those darling little faces drive through the parking lot with their parents and siblings and greet their teachers whom they haven’t seen in person for several weeks was magical. I’m a grown up and can’t make sense of what’s going on, so I can imagine what it’s like for young children to comprehend why they can’t be with their teachers and friends. It filled my heart to overflowing as Pam in her Tinkerbell wings waved her wand to each child and made a wish that they’d all be together again soon.
Thank you Pam, Amy Dorazi and Kinder Magic families for the gift of seeing so much love and humanity during these trying times.
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Boaters have been out enjoying the social distance of area lakes in recent weeks. The past two weekends, though, some have made the cruise from Lake Coeur d’Alene down the Spokane River. Big mistake. The spillgates at the Post Falls dam are wide open and the river level is about 15 feet below what it will be once the gates are closed. No buoys have been placed where large rocks loom barely below the surface, which a number of owners of expensive boats have discovered the hard way.
Pro tip: wait until Avista announces the closure of the dam and summer lake and river levels have been reached before cruising the Spokane River.
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My strategy for getting through this sixth week of quarantine has been simple; staying in my lane, keeping my hands to myself and taking responsibility for my own actions, not the actions of others. Try it.
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Happy birthday today to Shirley Grimmett, Ron Strobel, Jeannette Peacock, Cliff Standridge, Mark Nelke, Jim Barrett, Curtis Gregory, Dave Nordby, George Greenfield, Russell Thomas and Corey Beaver. April 23 birthdays belong to Shelly Enderud, Blair Williams, Troy Speziale, Malika Mills, Kevin Bennett, Charlotte Brown, Tracey Singer, Kathleen Schmidt and Tracy Williams.
On Friday Mary Watson, Dan Taylor, Pascale Cafferty, Hayley Gabriel, Dea Lenz, Lori Rogers, Mark McWhorter, Chris M Willoughby Sr., Mike Regusa, Eric Haakenson, Jordan Ketzenberg and Tim Ketzenberg blow out the candles. Saturday Matthew Wild, Cheryl Burchell, Lori Hess, Patricia Keller, Cathy Biby, Tom Hern, Krystal Arthur, Eric Haynes and Joey Grunden put on their party hats.
On Sunday Marilyn Desjarlais, Sandy Landberg, Patrick Lippert, Tim Skelton and Doneda Allen celebrate. Dee Sasse, Steve Kane, Frank Jackson and Brittney Blaski take another trip around the sun on Monday. April 28 birthdays belong to Tootie Reynolds, Martin Teall, Linette Freeman, Sue Barnard, Beth Bollinger, Barb Forgacs, Star Hart, Corinna Whiting, Jana Pool, Kristina Lallatin, Caitlin Rielly and Larry Locke.
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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.