Top down and sounds of spring

Kerri Thoreson

by KERRI THORESON
| March 20, 2024 1:00 AM

Ruthie Clark always wanted a little red convertible, which seemed impractical during marriage and motherhood and life in rural North Idaho. After retirement, her family grown and then widowhood, Ruthie became a CDL-qualified school bus driver of some renown at local and state bus rodeos. She's now retired from bus driving, too.

On Sunday morning, Ruthie pulled into our driveway wearing a smile twice the size of the little red convertible sports car she'd just bought. She joked that she can either transport one passenger or her golf clubs.

At age 81 our friend Ruthie is living her best life. If you see her driving around town with the top down and the wind in her hair, give her a thumbs up. You go girl!

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When I heard the roar of my husband starting his Harley and heading out for a spin, I thought, "That's what spring sounds like."

So I asked my village what spring sounds like to them and heard some interesting observations.

Harley guy Jeryl Archer agrees with me on the distinctive roar of motorcycles coming out of hibernation.

Bill Lingle said it's the sound of woodpeckers pounding on metal roof caps during their mating rituals. Marcia Rams agreed.

Kim Haddock says it's the sound of geese splashing in their pond since the ice melted. Sherry Wallis is hearing the sounds of the ice breaking up on Hauser Lake with a nightly chorus of frogs in serenade.

Sandi Morrison's grandsons and their dirt bikes is music to her ears. Elizabeth Glidden, likewise, spent the sunny weekend with her sons and their motorcycles and four-wheelers.

Sarah Gondo has enjoyed hearing the neighbor kids playing outside well into the evening.

Both Ellen Oster and Susan Cuff say the songs of meadowlarks are the sweet sounds of spring.

And you know you live in the county, if like Michelle Windham, spring sounds like the neighbors shooting their guns.

Up in the Silver Valley, Sherry Krulitz is hearing the sound of lawn mowers around the neighborhood.

For rancher Cathy Rider, baby cows and four-wheelers are singing her song. Judi Garland made me laugh with her response. After working in the yard, her sounds of spring have been "Ouch!" "Aaaahhhh" and "Oh, that hurts."

Daniella Cross encapsulated the sweet sounds of springtime as the lilt in people's voices. "It's akin to the same sound at the first snow or around Christmastime," she observed. "There's a particular happiness in people's voices, it's audible."

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Happy Main Street Birthdays today, the first day of spring, to Pam Houser, Kristi Granier, Aaron Sadler, John Blanchette, Tad Thompson, Julie Clark, Carolyn Anderson and Matt Hansen. Tomorrow, Brandie Chapman, Trey Bartoo, Luke Paul, Michelle Lewis, Marla Lopez, Trudie Chamberlan, Julie Billetz, Steve Hanson, Jacque Kress, Derek Teal and Jack Crawford turn the page on another year. Jessica Bonar, Beverly Larsen, Rich Anstine, Greg Cook, Doug Welch (70!), Jack Budvarson, Julie Perry, Katie Vaughan, Pam Adams, Boston Pierce, Cole Jaworski (20!) and Rob Carpenter frolic Friday. Saturday Herb Severtson, Tad Leach, Paul Ray, Herb Huseland, Lori Weaver, Julie Perry, Linda Lewis, Landon Stepro and Jacey Brockhoff celebrate. Dick Harris, Esther Paul and Nichole Frank have their cake and eat it, too, Sunday. On March 25, Jamé Davis, Ray Oliver, Colleen Brown, Brenda Buckingham, Alyssa Romero, Mike Carle and Alexander Carle do a birthday dance. Lucy Roth, Dave Fair, Julie Harris, Julie Readel, Nancy Noordam, J.B. Romero, Lorna Griffin, Mike Bennett, Cyndy Griffin, John Hart, Mistie Cooper and WJ Lazerus put on their party hats next Tuesday.

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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.