Ah,one beautiful thing about living in this area is that you never know what you will see. And there is one special spot that I have found to be a spiritual experience every so often when I stop there. Even when I was living in Seattle, and would come home to see the folks, I would always stop in Big Creek by the little pond by the memorial. I don't know why I have always been so drawn here, but I am, and I have been rewarded so many times for doing so. After I met Candy and we got married, I started stopping by there with her, and we have seen so many marvelous life forms. One day two years ago, I parked there, got out of the car, and walked towards the water. I looked out over the pond, and there starring back at me was a large bull moose. Over the months we have seen beavers, hawks, chipmunks, deer, ducks and host of other interesting life forms. So, every week when we make our pilgrimage to Wally World to shop for groceries, we stop back by Big Creek to see what we can see.
Friday was no exception, and we took the old highway out of Kellogg. As we neared Elk Creek, my wife gasped, and I turned to my left to see what she was gasping about. And there, standing only a few feet from us was a a female moose. I stopped the car, and the moose looked right at me, and our eyes locked for about ten seconds. She then darted in to the brush. We drove up the road about a mile, and suddenly I had the urge to go back and see if she was still there. We did, and just as we got back to Elk Creek, not only did we see the female, we say her baby running right behind her. We watched in utter awe as mother and child ran right through the parking lot of the new construction company , and head towards the homes in Elk Creek. Carefully following her in the car, trying not to spook her, we watched as she and her baby made their way through the streets, and then disappear into the mountain.
My wife and I sat in the car for a few minutes, quietly and excitedly relieving those goose bump moments. Nothing is more beautiful than to see all of God's wonderful creations and life forms.
There are moments when I hate being back here. I miss the city, the shopping, Starbucks, and the hum of cars and foreign accents. But, when I see something like mother and child that we saw Friday, I think that this is a special place, a natural zoo. Oh, we will move back to city life when our business is wrapped up here, but in the meantime, we will stand in awe of all of the wonderful life forms this area has. Stop and look, you never know what you will see.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Monday, June 22, 2009
Lead Creek Derby-Reivsted
As the end of the school year drew tantalizingly near, and the warm sun poured through the old brick walls of Wallace Elementary School, hope sprang eternal in the hearts and minds of grade school children. Baseball, picnics, fishing, hiking, camping, The Fourth of July, and maybe a trip to a far away place, loomed as an enticement to get that darn school year over with and dance out of the musty halls with unbridled glee when that final bell tolled the glad announcement that you were free.
But wait, I forgot to mention one more enticement. Yes, there was one more upcoming event on the calendar that added fuel to the glowing fire of excitement. This was an event like none other in the world. It was the infamous "Gyro Lead Creek Derby Days". For you see, each grade school student was handed a book of tickets for the carnival that rolled into Wallace to add color and excitement the event. I eagerly awaited those free tickets each year, and I had political privilege because my best friend's father just happened to be the Chief of Police in Wallace, and we were given extra tickets every summer. (Yes, good old political corruption at it's best.)
So, the first night of the carnival, which was always on a Thursday night, and my friend and I would head for the streets of downtown, which was not much of a chore for me because I lived on Cedar Street, and the carnival was set up three blocks from my home. Someday I will tell you how I used to have to walk two whole blocks to school through three feet of snow. It was horrible, but that is for another day.
The first thing on our agenda at the carnival was the ride known as the "Octopus".This ride always set up in front of Morrow's Retail, and it was by far our favorite ride. Now, once is enough for many people, but my friend and I had only one thing in mind, and that was to ride as many times in a row as we could before we got sick. OK, was that really that different than the adults who would drink as many beers or shots as they could before they also knelt before the Porcelain Goddess? I think not!
This ritual went on for three fulls nights, sometimes being augmented by rides on the Ferris Wheel and munching on Cotton Candy and snow cones. Then, on Saturday night the excitement reached a fevered pitch as the drum and bugle corp made their annual pilgrimage through the street of Wallace, visiting each bar, and that was no small task in those days. As they went from bar to bar the playing got worse and worse. Then, the climax of the evening came. We always tried to be on the Ferris wheel as the fireworks lit up the festive, night sky.
Then came the super bowel moment of Wallace, the actual floating down Lead Creek of the derby ball from Mullan to Wallace. What a moment, a Kodak moment, if you will. Thousands of screaming, drunk people cheering madly as the big ball came down the murky river. That night we would always take one more ride on the Octopus, and as we weaved our way off the ride for the last time for that year we bid a sad farewell, and said we would see it all again next year.
Fast forward in time to June 13, 2008, and I made my journey back to the Derby. I wanted my wife to witness the event like I had seen it so many years ago. She was born and raised and lived most of her life in Baltimore, Maryland, and I am sure that she had never seen anything like our "Lead Creek Derby" event. I had talked so much about it that she was really excited to go. I told her that we might have to walk quite a ways because there would be no parking. I have to warn her about such things because I play out easily with my condition, and she has to help me walk sometimes.
So, off we went to the big event. Well, right away I knew things had changed for the worse. We parked within a few feet of the carnival, something that would have been impossible in my childhood. Next came another shock, for as we rounded the corner of what used to be the North Idaho Press office, I saw with dismay that the carnival was only a miniature version of the carnival of my childhood. Even more shocking was that there were only scattered handfuls of people on the streets, Most of the three or four rides were empty. My wife gave me a questioning look that said " OK, where is this massive event you have been bragging about?"
Well, one thing had not changed, because about the time we were up one-half block, I heard the drums of the drum and bugle corp coming from one if the bars. At least they still did that!
We walked around for about thirty minutes trying to capture some of my past, but all I could do was look sorrowfully at another ghost of Wallace past. My wife lovingly took my hand and said, "Baby, the Wallace you knew is gone, and sometimes you just have to accept that things change."
Well, OK, I can do that, but that does not mean that I don't yearn for those wonderful things that made my childhood a happy place and time.
Lead Creek Derby? Better change the name, for even the river changed and now the event should be forever known as the "Unleaded Creek Derby" Gosh!
And so we went up this year, 2009 again, and I repeat the post I made in 2008-for Pete's Sake!
But wait, I forgot to mention one more enticement. Yes, there was one more upcoming event on the calendar that added fuel to the glowing fire of excitement. This was an event like none other in the world. It was the infamous "Gyro Lead Creek Derby Days". For you see, each grade school student was handed a book of tickets for the carnival that rolled into Wallace to add color and excitement the event. I eagerly awaited those free tickets each year, and I had political privilege because my best friend's father just happened to be the Chief of Police in Wallace, and we were given extra tickets every summer. (Yes, good old political corruption at it's best.)
So, the first night of the carnival, which was always on a Thursday night, and my friend and I would head for the streets of downtown, which was not much of a chore for me because I lived on Cedar Street, and the carnival was set up three blocks from my home. Someday I will tell you how I used to have to walk two whole blocks to school through three feet of snow. It was horrible, but that is for another day.
The first thing on our agenda at the carnival was the ride known as the "Octopus".This ride always set up in front of Morrow's Retail, and it was by far our favorite ride. Now, once is enough for many people, but my friend and I had only one thing in mind, and that was to ride as many times in a row as we could before we got sick. OK, was that really that different than the adults who would drink as many beers or shots as they could before they also knelt before the Porcelain Goddess? I think not!
This ritual went on for three fulls nights, sometimes being augmented by rides on the Ferris Wheel and munching on Cotton Candy and snow cones. Then, on Saturday night the excitement reached a fevered pitch as the drum and bugle corp made their annual pilgrimage through the street of Wallace, visiting each bar, and that was no small task in those days. As they went from bar to bar the playing got worse and worse. Then, the climax of the evening came. We always tried to be on the Ferris wheel as the fireworks lit up the festive, night sky.
Then came the super bowel moment of Wallace, the actual floating down Lead Creek of the derby ball from Mullan to Wallace. What a moment, a Kodak moment, if you will. Thousands of screaming, drunk people cheering madly as the big ball came down the murky river. That night we would always take one more ride on the Octopus, and as we weaved our way off the ride for the last time for that year we bid a sad farewell, and said we would see it all again next year.
Fast forward in time to June 13, 2008, and I made my journey back to the Derby. I wanted my wife to witness the event like I had seen it so many years ago. She was born and raised and lived most of her life in Baltimore, Maryland, and I am sure that she had never seen anything like our "Lead Creek Derby" event. I had talked so much about it that she was really excited to go. I told her that we might have to walk quite a ways because there would be no parking. I have to warn her about such things because I play out easily with my condition, and she has to help me walk sometimes.
So, off we went to the big event. Well, right away I knew things had changed for the worse. We parked within a few feet of the carnival, something that would have been impossible in my childhood. Next came another shock, for as we rounded the corner of what used to be the North Idaho Press office, I saw with dismay that the carnival was only a miniature version of the carnival of my childhood. Even more shocking was that there were only scattered handfuls of people on the streets, Most of the three or four rides were empty. My wife gave me a questioning look that said " OK, where is this massive event you have been bragging about?"
Well, one thing had not changed, because about the time we were up one-half block, I heard the drums of the drum and bugle corp coming from one if the bars. At least they still did that!
We walked around for about thirty minutes trying to capture some of my past, but all I could do was look sorrowfully at another ghost of Wallace past. My wife lovingly took my hand and said, "Baby, the Wallace you knew is gone, and sometimes you just have to accept that things change."
Well, OK, I can do that, but that does not mean that I don't yearn for those wonderful things that made my childhood a happy place and time.
Lead Creek Derby? Better change the name, for even the river changed and now the event should be forever known as the "Unleaded Creek Derby" Gosh!
And so we went up this year, 2009 again, and I repeat the post I made in 2008-for Pete's Sake!
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Swatting Flies- A National Crises
As you all know, I am not a fan of Mr. Obama, but I really do have to defend him here. Despite the fact that he committed the unpardonable sin, and killed a fly in front of a national audience.
I know, I know, the crime rate will surely go up now, because if the President of the United States can kill in cold blooded fashion, then every lunatic in the country surely has that same right. We just can't have the President killing flies, can we?
What will our enemies think of our inhumanity? There go the peace talks around the world, The USA is simply not to be trusted when we use weapons of mass destruction to kill flies. Wait a minute, I've got it!! Actually, he was sending a message to North Korea and Iran. He was saying " we will crush you like an insect if you cross us" Hm, maybe this is the start of a new foreign policy. Bombs away.
Peta must be crushed. They are way out of bounds and should be ashamed. This past week they tired to stop the tossing of dead fish at Pike's Place Market in Seattle. Dead fish? Come on. Peta, for Pete's sake!
I know, I know, the crime rate will surely go up now, because if the President of the United States can kill in cold blooded fashion, then every lunatic in the country surely has that same right. We just can't have the President killing flies, can we?
What will our enemies think of our inhumanity? There go the peace talks around the world, The USA is simply not to be trusted when we use weapons of mass destruction to kill flies. Wait a minute, I've got it!! Actually, he was sending a message to North Korea and Iran. He was saying " we will crush you like an insect if you cross us" Hm, maybe this is the start of a new foreign policy. Bombs away.
Peta must be crushed. They are way out of bounds and should be ashamed. This past week they tired to stop the tossing of dead fish at Pike's Place Market in Seattle. Dead fish? Come on. Peta, for Pete's sake!
Thursday, June 11, 2009
What Movie Should I Watch Today?
I have a collection of movies that would be valued in the millions and millions of dollars. They are priceless, and span the entire spectrum of every type of movie ever made. They are are kept under lock and key in a secret place where neither thief nor nature can enter in and destroy them.
I have a collection of movies from the past, the present , and even a collection of movies that have not yet been released for the public to view. I have both fiction and non fiction, westerns, classics, romance, steamy porn, horror flicks, travel features, documentaries, biographies, cartoons, teen, adult only, and children's tales. You name it, and I have it.I have films of relationships gone bad, movies of Superman type heroes, and Mickey Mouse. I am not at loss when I want to watch a movie, for I have them all.
The beauty of my movies is that I can put them on the projector and view them at any time of the day or night. I can watch them as I drive, sleep, eat, watch television, write this blog, and even while I am watching another movie at the theatre or on my DVD player. Another ground breaking technology that I have is that I can rewrite them, crop the picture, enlarge the picture, downsize the picture, put different costumes on the characters of the movie, change their roles, or enlarge their lines. I can put them in old movies, or I can cast them in future projects that are still just brain children of the writer. Oh, and one other thing, I write the movies, produce them, direct them, and yes, I am the star in everyone of them. For you see, they are the stories of my life, spanning times when I was not even yet alive, and times in the future when I will probably nor even be here on this plane.
I can read the history of ancient Rome or Greece, and I can put make myself a Caesar, a king, a knight, a peasant, a wealthy land baron. I can read the history of the United States and produce a script that places me in the mind of Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln. I can read about slavery and become either a plantation owner, or a slave. I can watch someone walking down the street and create a whole future movie about their life and the role that I will play in it.If i don't like a scene from the past, I can simply edit it, cut it out, or gloss over it, or I can relive both horror, joy, sorrow, or indifference. I am the writer, the producer, the director, and the star of my own movies. I can make them whatever I want them them to be. It's up to me.
Hm, what movies will I watch today?
I have a collection of movies from the past, the present , and even a collection of movies that have not yet been released for the public to view. I have both fiction and non fiction, westerns, classics, romance, steamy porn, horror flicks, travel features, documentaries, biographies, cartoons, teen, adult only, and children's tales. You name it, and I have it.I have films of relationships gone bad, movies of Superman type heroes, and Mickey Mouse. I am not at loss when I want to watch a movie, for I have them all.
The beauty of my movies is that I can put them on the projector and view them at any time of the day or night. I can watch them as I drive, sleep, eat, watch television, write this blog, and even while I am watching another movie at the theatre or on my DVD player. Another ground breaking technology that I have is that I can rewrite them, crop the picture, enlarge the picture, downsize the picture, put different costumes on the characters of the movie, change their roles, or enlarge their lines. I can put them in old movies, or I can cast them in future projects that are still just brain children of the writer. Oh, and one other thing, I write the movies, produce them, direct them, and yes, I am the star in everyone of them. For you see, they are the stories of my life, spanning times when I was not even yet alive, and times in the future when I will probably nor even be here on this plane.
I can read the history of ancient Rome or Greece, and I can put make myself a Caesar, a king, a knight, a peasant, a wealthy land baron. I can read the history of the United States and produce a script that places me in the mind of Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln. I can read about slavery and become either a plantation owner, or a slave. I can watch someone walking down the street and create a whole future movie about their life and the role that I will play in it.If i don't like a scene from the past, I can simply edit it, cut it out, or gloss over it, or I can relive both horror, joy, sorrow, or indifference. I am the writer, the producer, the director, and the star of my own movies. I can make them whatever I want them them to be. It's up to me.
Hm, what movies will I watch today?
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Reunion Time
Well, it is again just about time for that old reunion for Wallace High, and I am once again not going. I missed the tenth, twentieth, and so on, so I want to be consistent, you know. After returning to Wallace after many years absences, I just don't think that I could face the fact that old school chums have grown old. Seeing the decay of Wallace is bad enough. Driving past the blight of a building that they now call " Wallace Senior and Junior High School" breaks my heart. I cannot imagine the disgrace that high school students feel to have Junior High kids in the same building. Pitiful!
I cannot face the fact that Wallace now plays some game called "eight-man football" They may as well just have a flag football team. And being in the same league now as Mullan is beyond what any older Wallace High student should have to endure. So, you see, it is not my school. It is not the place that I so fondly remember and tell my wife and kids about. There have been enough changes to face since I returned, and I cannot even begin to face what some of my old classmates look like now!
For instance, what must GF look like now. Old, decrepit, probably using a cane or walker, false teeth falling out of his mouth, or even worse, gumming his reunion dinner. Oh, the horror of it!
I am sure all the girls who once fueled my teenage hormones are now white-haired, with those matronly figures. Oh, the horror of it. Why, I on the other hand and more fit, dashingly handsome, and charming than ever. I don't want to make the rest of my old chums feel badly about how they have gone over the hill.
So, I will not go. I might venture over there and see if any of my old classmates are around the streets and take a quick peek to see how they have aged, but that is about all. So, in good will to all of my old mates, I will not make them feel like failures, as they surely would if they saw me, and I want to remember them as they were, not the horrible state that they are in. .
And besides that, I am too cheap to pay the fee to go.
I cannot face the fact that Wallace now plays some game called "eight-man football" They may as well just have a flag football team. And being in the same league now as Mullan is beyond what any older Wallace High student should have to endure. So, you see, it is not my school. It is not the place that I so fondly remember and tell my wife and kids about. There have been enough changes to face since I returned, and I cannot even begin to face what some of my old classmates look like now!
For instance, what must GF look like now. Old, decrepit, probably using a cane or walker, false teeth falling out of his mouth, or even worse, gumming his reunion dinner. Oh, the horror of it!
I am sure all the girls who once fueled my teenage hormones are now white-haired, with those matronly figures. Oh, the horror of it. Why, I on the other hand and more fit, dashingly handsome, and charming than ever. I don't want to make the rest of my old chums feel badly about how they have gone over the hill.
So, I will not go. I might venture over there and see if any of my old classmates are around the streets and take a quick peek to see how they have aged, but that is about all. So, in good will to all of my old mates, I will not make them feel like failures, as they surely would if they saw me, and I want to remember them as they were, not the horrible state that they are in. .
And besides that, I am too cheap to pay the fee to go.
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I had always thought that there was some type of Divine order to this chaos. I always wanted to believe that everything happened for a purpo...
