Bloomsday Knight Steps Out Of Crowd

Ahhh, sometimes stories have such wonderful endings. We are delighted today to share one with you. Two weeks ago, we told you the sad tale of Kathy Johnson, who broke her shoulder after falling during Bloomsday. A good Samaritan helped her to the side of the road and she was so out of it, due to pain, that she never had the chance to thank him. She asked us if we could help track him down. She was worried she wrecked his running time because of the delay in helping her. We didn’t do much but print the story. A few days later we received a fax from Stanton Inzer of Spokane.

It read: “I believe that I am the person Kathy Johnson is looking for. I did not see her fall, but when I saw her on the ground, I was appalled to see people running around her and jumping over her but not stopping to help her up. It was my obligation to help. The race didn’t matter. When we got to the side of the road, Kathy told me to go, she was OK. I did leave her there and have felt guilty. To find out that she fractured a bone leaves me feeling really bad.

“I want Kathy to know that stopping to help her probably helped me achieve my goal of breaking one hour. (My time: 58 minutes.) I am notorious for starting out too fast and dying at the end. I ended up running the first mile in 10 minutes and then (after helping Kathy) I changed my attitude and ran for the fun of it. I am thankful Kathy’s injury wasn’t any worse and that she wasn’t trampled by the masses. I hope to see her in a race again. My next one will be the Heritage City Marathon in Nelson, B.C., on June 25.”

Something different: We always applaud women’s efforts to start unique businesses. It’s good role modeling for other women who want to venture into the scary unknown. Judy Johnson of Spokane has opened a bed and breakfast on the South Hill. It’s unique because there’s only room for one person. One guest at a time is treated to a three-room suite consisting of a bedroom, bathroom and library. Office services - a computer and fax - are also available. Call 455-4545.

Survivors: The YWCA’s Alternatives to Domestic Violence Program is offering a recovery group for survivors of partner abuse. Participants must be out of abusive relationships. For more information, call Debi Roberts at 326-1190.

Another perspective: Interesting excerpt from the poem “Premenstrual Syndrome” by Sharon Nelson.

What if

this is the time of the month

when your perceptions are sharpest?

What if

this is the time of the month when

the illusions you hug round you,

warm and comforting and thick as a rug,

flap in the chill wind of seeing

what actually is?

What if

this is the time of the month when

the normal, the usual, are

revealed

as the lies you tell yourself

three hundred and thirty days of

the year? , DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Drawing