May is for ice cream, motorcycles and voting
Kerri Thoreson
The past week’s glorious sunshiny weather has been a mood brightener all the way around. The other day, Bert was out in the backyard opening the pool for the season and I was in the house when I heard the most glorious sound of springtime through the screen door ... ice cream truck music! Before we could make the decision to enjoy an evening after-dinner treat, poof! The ice cream man was way down the block. Few people spend time in their front yards and many houses don’t even have front porches, unlike yesteryear when they were commonplace.
So here’s a memo to the ice cream man ... we love hearing the music but would also love to buy ice cream. Boomers can’t run outside to the curb as fast as little kids can. I’d hate to break a hip for a Fudgsicle so slow down, pretty please.
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The Harald Haarfager Lodge of the Sons of Norway will celebrate Syttende Mai Feiring, Norwegian Constitution Day, at 6 p.m. Friday at Trinity Lutheran Church, 812 N. Fifth St. in Coeur d’Alene. A proclamation will be read, anthems sung along with a bunad parade. Hot dogs and ice cream will be served. Call or text 208-262-8020 if you plan to attend.
The Constitution of Norway was signed at Eidsvoll on May 17 in 1814, 210 years ago!
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May is Motorcycle Awareness Month, although except for snowy winter months, we need to always be alert for the two-wheeled vehicles that share the roadways. It could be a matter of life or death for both motorcyclists and motorists to be aware of their surroundings. Checking blind spots and mirrors and using turn signals are necessary when changing lanes and when passing.
My husband has owned and ridden a motorcycle for decades. We have a joke, that’s not really a joke, that he needs to ride with the thought that every single motorist is not paying attention, is impaired or distracted by their phone. He takes responsibility for riding with caution and never assumes that a motorist is paying attention, no matter who has the right-of-way.
Those of us who are driving on four wheels do need to pay a little extra attention now that the weather is warm and the motorcycles are out of winter storage. Motorcycle safety is a two-way street.
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When next week’s column is published May 22, the results of the May 21 Primary Election will be known. As the saying goes, we do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate. Vote!
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Happy birthday today to Suzanna Spencer, Al Harrison, Lorri Gum, Patricia Braddock, Jack Wheir and Barbara Welch. Tomorrow, birthdays will be celebrated by Wednesday Walton, Diane Wahl, Kari Malkovich, Cindy Barnes, Natalie Fritz and Michelle Richter. On Friday, Bryan Myers, Allison Krutulis, Jared Janke, Brad Finney, Shawntel Shofner, Brad Enders and Christine Brannon take another trip around the sun. Vicki Isakson, Lauren Hopkins, Jeanne Helstrom, Amy Corbett, Tom Ball, Corky Chadderdon, Shaun Johnson and Tina Haskin share a May 18 birthday. Laura Stensgar Penney, Nellie Thompson, Tom Lien, Vera Brown, Julie Kohut, Jessica Smalley McGreal, Tammy Rupinski and Rick Nowoj cut their birthday cake Sunday. On Monday, Jeannie Steele, Heather Hart, Barry White, John Goedde, Billie Gross, Shawn Nash, Tina Smith, Jana Hull and Lindsay Herbert blow out the candles to start the week. Donna Jessick Atwood, Jessica Bauman, Ruth Fullwiler, Jessica Capaul, Dick Epstein, KV Nelson, Pam Freeman and Carter Hamby celebrate the day of their birth 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.