Special deliveries spread neighborhood joy

In a month that’s been heavy and hard, this day brightener is just what I needed. Maybe we all do.

Friend and longtime newspaper reader Sue Sims has lived in Coeur d’Alene’s Parkwood/Pinegrove neighborhood for over two decades. Eight years ago, Sue and her husband, Kenny, adopted a rescue dog, Blue. Their yard isn’t fenced, so a new routine was created for Sue and Blue ... daily morning neighborhood walks before Sue headed to work at the city of Coeur d’Alene’s Street Department. Neither rain, snow, sleet nor hail stops the duo from their appointed milelong rounds every day of the year.

Early on, Sue would notice newspapers in the driveways or in the newspaper boxes of her neighbors and began to deliver the paper to the porches in the early hours of dawn. Some of those neighbors were older and she could save them the steps, especially in inclement weather. A thoughtful gesture of neighborliness, even with neighbors she’d not yet met.

This spring, when Sue and Blue added a second neighborhood walk mile, she joked that she gained eight more homes to her “paper route.” Because it’s sometimes dark in the early morning when she walks and there aren’t sidewalks, Sue wears a reflective vest or jacket.

Sue’s kindness has not gone unnoticed through the years as she’s formed friendships and become a one-woman neighborhood watch. This month, one of those neighbors delivered flowers and a note to Sue’s porch.

“We want to thank you for blessing our lives by putting our paper on the porch, day after day, morning after morning. Your acts of kindness are encouraging. The older I get, the more I don’t like walking down the driveway, especially in the winter, when it is or could be icy,” the note read. “Thank you for caring and spreading joy around the neighborhood.”

Sue told me that it’s a perfect way to begin her day. “I really do enjoy the morning, the walk, starting my day with a deed that hopefully makes my neighbors happy and a quiet moment as the new day dawns,” she said.

Let the ripples of kindness inspire us all to be good neighbors in all corners of our communities. Quiet good deeds are powerful.

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This weekend is Rathdrum Days, kicking off Friday evening at Majestic Park with kids activities, live music and vendors from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.

On Saturday, enjoy the Memories on Main Street Parade on Main Street at 10 a.m. I’m announcing again with special guest Sarah Polk, who will also be leading the fun pre-parade dance party in the street at 9:45 a.m. for kids of all ages. Come early!

Following the parade, Family Fun Day at Lakeland High School with games, vendors, a car show and live music until 7 p.m.

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This week’s trivia is provided by Facebook Memories that pop up every day in our newsfeeds. On July 19, 2011, I emceed Tails at Twilight to benefit the Kootenai Humane Society. It was the first public event held at the then brand-new Hagadone Event Center.

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Happy Main Street Birthdays today to Sandi Morrison, Yvonne Smith, Marcy Clutter, Rich Doughty, Cindy Wiedmer, Patrick Ryan and Doug Jaworski. Tomorrow, Steve Roberg, Terry Werner, Callie Cabe, John Malloy, Erik Nelson, Rick Souza, Janet Brock, Belinda Rowe (40!), Amber Flinn, Lori Larkin and Emily Crawford put on their party hats. Celebrating the anniversary of their birth July 18 are Eric Wurmlinger, Jessica Ohlig, Annette Davis, Kathy LaTourrette, Dustin Peacock, Lori Nelson, Sandie Husby, Joanne Anglin and Cody Jones. On Saturday, David Kilmer, Maria Dawson, Brooke Skidmore-Wood, Vic Grilli, Hillary Main, Sherri Dust and Micheala Cocoran Hall blow out the candles. Duffy Smock, Linda Litalien and Kymber Baker take another trip around the sun Sunday. Strike up the band for Jim Lien, Cathy Meeks, David Miller, Todd Jenicek, Zofia Schell, Janet Allen, Shane Bell and Matt Gardner with Monday birthdays. July 22 birthdays belong to Joe Malloy, Jim Coleman, Debbie Brown (70!), Jennifer Schmidt, Tina Vandenheuvel and Sam Paul.

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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].