Today is tomorrow's good old days
Kerri Thoreson
Over the weekend, I posted a 2009 photo from a roast for Cliff Hayes’ retirement from the Post Falls Police Department on my Facebook page. Chief Hayes is pictured with the group who spoke at his roast, a who’s who of former and current at the time elected officials. Former mayors Kent Helmer, Frank Henderson — both of whom became Kootenai County commissioners — Jim Hammond, who became a state senator and mayor of Coeur d'Alene, and Clay Larkin, along with then Kootenai County Sheriff Rocky Watson, former Kootenai County Commissioner and State Senator Dick Compton, incoming Post Falls Police Chief Scot Haug, FBI Special Agent Don Robinson and representing the Post Falls City Council, Scott Grant and me.
My dear friend Cliff would go on to be elected Kootenai County clerk, serving just three years until his death at age 62 in 2013.
A commenter of the photo happened to win his first election in November and was sworn into the Coeur d’Alene School Board of Trustees on Monday. Posted Jimmy McAndrew, “Good old days! How I wish we had these days again.”
My response to Gen Xer Jimmy was, “Actually today will be your generation’s good old days. Get out there and make history, my friend.”
To all of the Gen Xers and Millennials in our communities, how will you be remembered in your good old days? Making history, making a difference?
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My husband, Bert, was born and raised in northwest North Dakota, where winter can literally be a matter of life and death. So as I’m writing this column I ask what advice he has for Main Street readers with the forecast sub-zero temperatures coming up. He’s a man of few words, two to be exact, “bundle up.” When pressed further he added leave faucets dripping to keep pipes from freezing.
My advice? Make colored ice balls!
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On the anniversary of his passing, remembering Dave Matheson and his wise words, “We need to keep a good heart in all things.”
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Happy Birthday today to Mary Jane Hahn, Nathan Johnson, Katrina Jaeger, Jan Harris, Tom Iverson, Paul Matthews and Ronan Kennedy. Tomorrow, Kathy Kress White, Chris Hansen, Luke Gonzales, Tim Elder, Cora Cole, Amy Morfitt, Ivan Bosanko and Nathan Johnson will be celebrating. On Friday, Vivienne Mitchell, Mike Baker, Deborah Shaw, Pat Russell, Wendy Wallin, Debbie Oliver and Ryan Wichman will blow out their candles. Celebrating Saturday the 13th birthdays are Andy Irgens, Len Benes, JJ Dion, Joni Clevenger, Janice Myers, Mike Jorgenson, Karen Gage, Judy Manley, Tory Lee, Karen Holt, Teddi Johnson and Tasha Holmes. Sunday celebrants are Teresa Wasileski, Addison Baltzell, Judy Eichelberger, Anita Weaver, Claudia Elliott, Jason Wereley and Jaden Alexander. Taking another trip around the sun Monday are Rex Grace, Gayle Erickson, Paula Laws, Betsy Anderson, Kelli Ormesher and James Roberge (50!). On Tuesday, Kenny Peterson, Gail Wilson, Anita Millward, John Keener, Shelly Robson, Kelly Blaski, Charlie Kimball, Mary Mort, Nick Dimico, Bill Miller and Elaine Cook will hear the birthday song.
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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.