It's finally here, for real!
Thoreson
After a June and early July where warmer weather was hit and miss, it appears our summer sunshine finally decided it’s game on. Now I’m feeling a sense of urgency to cram the remainder of summer for lake time, river time, pool time, vacation time and sitting quietly on the porch and patio in the mornings and evenings time.
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While much of the country is experiencing extreme heat, our low 90s seem balmy in comparison. I’m a lifetime seeker of sunshine and have never had an issue with heat. This past Saturday morning it was right at 80 degrees, with a light breeze as Bert, Lt. Scott Harmon of the PFPD and I were preparing the announcer platform for the 10 a.m. parade in Post Falls. I was prepared with my large, insulated thermos of ice water and wearing a hat. We were only in direct sunlight for an hour or so before the parade started.
Up on the platform I went to begin announcing at 10 a.m. It wasn’t my first rodeo of parade announcing and everything was routine. Until it wasn’t. Maybe 20 minutes after the parade began I knew I was in trouble. The urge to purge the limited contents of my stomach loomed. I knew being ill while the parade passed by and surrounded by spectators presented a real challenge. I caught the attention of Tina Swanson who was spectating nearby and waved her over and asked if she’d come up. I handed her the microphone and pointed at my notebook of entry descriptions. Without hesitation she took over. Most people were none the wiser of what was happening except my friend Cindy Dollefeld, seated nearby, who brought me a cold, wet bar towel from Bob’s 21 Club for my neck. I eventually went inside Bob’s to sit briefly in the air-conditioning.
Tina and I tag teamed on the microphone until the parade ended, with her spending the bulk of the hour-long parade announcing like a pro. Tina’s an owner of Bob’s, which has been in her family for six decades. She’s also a retired flight attendant, well-trained in expecting the unexpected. She earns the title of unsung hero of my first time ever, one and done announcing of my hometown parade.
When Cindy called to check on me later that evening she said I was a silent and quiet upchucker, assuring me no one noticed. LOL! Throwing up in public isn’t exactly a skill I’d include on a resume.
The moral of the story is that evidently it does take a village to get me through the day, the show must go on and that perhaps I’m of an age that sun exposure and heat are affecting me differently. Hydrate my friends, embrace the shade!
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If you’re wanting to fill in your July local parade bingo card, Rathdrum Days parade is this Saturday at 10 a.m. on Main Street.
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Happy Main Street Birthdays today to Logan Virgil, Katie Mans, Laurel Flerchinger, Loretta Lyon, Angela Olson, Andreas John, Julie Ingram, Marisa Buffaloe, Brian Bunch, Wayne Huckabee and Glen Collins.
Tomorrow Sandi Morrison, Yvonne Smith, Marcy Clutter, Rich Doughty, Cindy Wiedmer, Patrick Ryan and Doug Jaworski celebrate their big day. On Friday Steve Roberg, Terry Werner, Callie Cabe, John Malloy, Erik Nelson, Rick Souza, Janet Brock, Belinda Rowe, Amber Flinn, Lori Larkin and Emily Crawford put on their party hats. Celebrating the anniversary of their birth on Saturday are Eric Wurmlinger, Jessica Ohlig, Annette Davis, Kathy LaTourrette, Dustin Peacock, Lori Nelson, Sandie Husby, Joanne Anglin and Cody Jones. On Sunday 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 on Monday. Strike up the band for Jim Lien, Cathy Meeks, David Miller, Todd Jenicek, Zofia Schell, Janet Allen, Shane Bell and Matt Gardner with July 21 birthdays.
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Kerri Rankin Thoreson is a member of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists and a former publisher/editor with the Hagadone Newspaper division. Main Street appears every Wednesday in The Press. Kerri can be reached on Facebook or via email at [email protected].