Happy endings and a road trip with grandma

Post Falls City Council President Joe Malloy proved he has the luck o’the Irish as well as a guardian angel on his side. On the last day of July, he was commuting to work via motorcycle when he was hit by a car that turned in front of him. The impact flung him over the car. Joe was wearing a helmet and protective clothing but was still seriously injured. What he did next qualifies my friend for Husband of the Year honors ... while lying in the street, he called his wife, Amber, to let her know what had happened, that he was alive and that the ambulance was on the way. That thoughtful act no doubt spared Amber and their two young children some worry, although certainly not all.

After a few days in the hospital, Joe is home slowly recuperating from compression fractures in his back. So much gratitude. And a reminder to everyone to be vigilant this time of year when there are motorcycles sharing the road.

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In 1978, 15-year-old JD Dickinson was driving from Iowa to Sioux Falls, S.D., with his grandmother, listening to the old AM car radio. He heard Willie Nelson singing "Blue Skies" and was hooked. His grandmother eventually gave JD a 45rpm record of the song and the journey began. He saw Willie in concert for the first time at the Anaheim Stadium in 1980. Forty-four years later, this past Friday in Spokane, JD attended his 57th Willie Nelson concert. He’s been to several meet-and-greets with the country music legend and even spent a little “quality time” on Willie’s bus. JD owns No. 7 of only 30 exact replicas ever made of Willie’s Martin guitar.
The Post Falls man’s amazing array of memorabilia is as much a tribute to a loving grandmother and a treasured long-ago road trip memory as it is to the now 91-year-old country music legend.

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Nothing signals the homestretch of summer like the North Idaho State Fair and Gem State Stampede, which opens Friday and runs through Sunday, Aug. 25. We’re fortunate to have so many who are dedicated to celebrating the farmers, ranchers, crafters, gardeners, bakers and artisans who are our neighbors. A special nod to all of the 4-H kids and their families who’ve worked so hard on their projects and made such a commitment to participate.

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Thanks to my pal, Garrison Keillor of Prairie Home Companion fame, I learned a new word ... doxology, which is how he described the following ode to fairs. He overlooked my favorite food item from the North Idaho State Fair, which in the olden days of the 1960s when I first started attending was called the Kootenai County Fair. Lions Club corn on the cob is a must-have for me. An elephant ear for dessert is optional.

O Lord protect this festival
The riders as they rise and fall.
The jams and pickles and the pies
Competing for the First Grand Prize.

O Lord we thank thee for this food,
When we are in a cheese curd mood.
For Pronto Pups and onion rings
Doughnuts and other deep-fried things.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise him for fair and rodeo.
Praise him for sugar and for grease,
And may he grant our stomachs peace.

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A new show on Netflix is timely ... "Blue Ribbon Baking Championship" features state fair blue ribbon winners from around the country competing in bake-offs for a shot at a blue ribbon and $100,000!

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Happy birthday today to Bob Sandau, Erin Elliott, Elaine Damschen, Lisa Hutcheson, Peter Faletto, Erin Reasor, Melinda Engel, Marla Lewis, Kevin Flaa, Annette Nolting and Melinda Frost. Marc Allert, Tracy Christopherson, Wayne Longo, Rick Currie, Mary Richter, Anne Couser and Thomas Sorci take another trip around the sun tomorrow. On Friday, Jeff Drew, Susan Selle, Brian Kirk, Jennifer Ross, Cindy Wagner, Andrea Fulks, Kim Brown, Serena Carlson, Sarah McCool, Paul Sullivan and Brandia Young mark another year. Saturday celebrations for Amber Malloy, Jenna Morrison (10!), JR Conrow, Kristin Largent, Cynthia Rayner, Terri Seymour, John Gertenbach, Brandee Peacock, Linda Mannschreck, Christina Gardner, Debbie Loftin (70!) and Lugene Broadsword (70!). On Sunday, Jim Hail, III, Brandi Meeks, Jaqueline Dickinson, Jake Medlock, Jasmine Preckle, Sarah Andrews, Toni Prince, Marissa Davenport, Corrine Larsen, Keva Wolfe, Andrea Sadler, Julie Pierce and Althea Carpenter put on their party hats. On Monday, Barrett Herman, Vicky Jo Carey, Scott Noordam, Amy Elder, Peter Woods and Frank Garcia (70!) blow out the candles. Mike Kralieck, Mary Condie, Nancy Scofield, Elaine Carda, Louise Gillespie, Christina Gardner, Gene Colley and Art Elliott share Aug. 20 birthdays.

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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 rkthor52@aol.com.