Sandpoint Civic Club starts 87th year of service
It's a cliche, I know, but it is true that my wife is head over heals in love with me … or should I make that heals over head?
Let me explain.
On this day, 14 years ago at a formerly small church in Sandpoint, Marlisa Piatt showed a complete lack of good sense and married me. Two Keyeslings, several houses and one dog later, I couldn't ask for anything more.
I married my best friend; she's proved to be an outstanding wife to me and Mom to Austin and Olivia. I am grateful the Piatt family was included as part of the wedding package.
I feel blessed every time I look into Marlisa's beautiful eyes and am reminded right now those are the same eyes that had tears in them 14 years ago at our wedding and the same eyes shed tears when our children were born.
Those are also the same eyes I stared into Sunday morning after I heard a blood-curdling scream and ran to find Marlisa crumpled in a ball.
Our Montana born and bred dog, Leila, had escaped out the garage door and was enjoying the freedom or running around Northshore. Of course, the entire family took off after the escapee, which just added to Leila's glee.
Marlisa, who was wearing sandals, chased the dog around the neighbor's house and that's where she wrenched her left foot. More accurately, that is wear she broke several small bones and separated four of her five toes from their sockets.
The podiatrist on Tuesday said her injuries are consistent with a person having a serious traffic accident.
So on this 14th anniversary of when I swept Marlisa off her feet, we will celebrate our feat in surgery and one of us will have to spend the next six-to-eight weeks on crutches. The first 14 years have shot by in no time, why do I have the sinking feeling the next two months won't?
I'm still head over heals in love with you, Marlisa. Here's to many more uneventful anniversaries together.
A quick poll of parents and kids yesterday brought me to the conclusion that this was the fastest summer vacation ever. You?
I have received 10 e-mails and numerous calls from people who enjoyed the short amount of time the stoplights in downtown Sandpoint weren't working. That's right, they enjoyed the fact that the two stoplights on Larch and Cedar that intersect with Fifth Avenue would only blink and that those intersections basically became four-way stops.
"Did you notice how much faster traffic went through town?" stated one writer. "Instead of traffic being backed up past the chamber like it has been all summer, there were only a few cars at each stoplight. Kind of makes you think, doesn't it?"
If you would like to discuss this transportation topic, or anything else concerning a proposed byway, why not attend the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce's general meeting this Thursday at noon at the City Forum. Idaho Transportation officials will be there. Call the Chamber office to reserve a seat.
The Sandpoint Civic Club is starting its 87th year of service to Sandpoint and the area. I'm looking forward to addressing this organization on Monday on the topic of the "Ups and downs of running a newspaper." I'm still looking for the downs, I must admit.
If you are looking for soccer action, look no further than Sandpoint this weekend. It is time for the annual Strikers tournament.
Teams from three states will be playing on every available field From Friday until Monday.
Sandpoint is truly the soccer capital of the state of Idaho and will prove it again this weekend and will also bring home two state championships … again.
Who hasn't been touched by the unfolding tragedy in the New Orleans area because of the devastation of Hurricane Katrina?
How do you come to grips with the fact that 10,000 people may be dead? I remember breathing a sigh of relief when I heard that Katrina had veered away from New Orleans and that damage to that city was going to be minimal.
The outpouring of compassion is truly remarkable.
Many locals are doing what they can. If you are planning to help the victims of the hurricane, let us know at the Bee.
Debbie Berntsen sent us this note:
"I am a local Avon representative in the Sandpoint area. I am holding an Avon Fundraiser to benefit the Hurricane Katrina victims and would like to let the area know. 100 percent of all profits from Avon orders will be donated to this terrible disaster but I'm only doing this until 9/13 which means we need to let folks know now.
"As I am a one-woman fundraising team anything you can do to promote this would be helpful. I have a Web site at http://www.youravon.com/dberntsen where folks can shop the catalog and place orders if they don't already have a catalog. I should be in town on Wed. if you would like me to stop by the office for a picture or something. I hope you can help me out and make this a huge success."
It is great to live in a country where people respond to tragedy by doing something.
E-mail of the week:
Marriage seminar
While attending a marriage seminar dealing with communication, Tom and his wife Grace listened to the instructor, "It is essential that husbands and wives know the things that are important to each other."
He addressed the man, "Can you describe your wife's favorite flower?"
Tom leaned over, touched his wife's arm gently and whispered, "It's Pillsbury, isn't it?
David Keyes is publisher of the Bee. His column runs weekly.