Adjusting to being a retired couple

My much younger husband, Bert, officially retired June 30 after nearly a quarter century with the Lakeland School District Transportation Department and over half a century as a wage earner altogether.

I’ve been mostly retired since January 2024. One of the humorous adjustments for me over the past several weeks is not knowing what day of the week it is when every day feels like the weekend. The weekend used to be the days Bert didn’t go to work. Now we’re both a bit discombobulated.

Thank goodness for this column and decades of Deadline Tuesdays. At least I’m aware of one day out of seven.

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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. 24. This year’s theme is Keeping Tradition Alive 2025, which is fitting.

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 who make such a commitment to participate.

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.

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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According to the National Weather Service, the dog days of summer refer to a period of hot and humid weather typically occurring in late July and August. The operative word is typically. I remember when we used to simply call the warm weather summer and didn’t need the news weathercasters to warn us to stay hydrated and hunkered down. Since summer usually arrives late and ends too soon in our neck of the woods, I celebrate by jumping in the lake, river or pool at every opportunity.

I have a love/hate relationship with August. Love that summer's finally here, hate that the frenetic pace of trying to cram summer into a single month leaves me frazzled.

FYI ... the weather forecast for the first three days of the North Idaho State Fair is partly cloudy with high temps in the 70s. Sigh.

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Happy birthday today to George Gee, Mike Laverdure, Tery Garras, Michelle Coppess, Donna Flom and Bryan DeKeles. Tomorrow, Bob Sandau, Erin Elliott, Elaine Damschen, Lisa Hutcheson, Peter Faletto, Erin Reasor, Melinda Engel, Marla Lewis, Kevin Flaa, Annette Nolting and Melinda Fros blow out the candles. Marc Allert, Tracy Christopherson, Wayne Longo, Rick Currie, Mary Richter, Anne Couser and Thomas Sorci take another trip around the sun Friday. On Saturday, 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. Sunday celebrations for Amber Malloy, Jenna Morrison, JR Conrow, Kristin Largent, Cynthia Rayner, Terri Seymour, John Gertenbach, Brandee Peacock, Linda Mannschreck, Christina Gardner, Debbie Loftin and Lugene Broadsword. On Monday, 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 Aug. 19, Barrett Herman, Vicky Jo Carey, Scott Noordam, Amy Elder, Peter Woods and Frank Garcia blow out the candles.

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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 [email protected].