The Slice Do The Hinterlands Beckon? Listen To Our Reasons To Stay

Here are 10 reasons to stay in the Spokane area.

1. To see what happens next.

2. To annoy your enemies.

3. To be part of the solution.

4. To vote against things.

5. Because you like your dentist, the woman at the cleaners, your pharmacist, your hair stylist, the women at the post office, your financial planner, your accountant, that nice guy at that one store, the crew at your favorite espresso stand, your babysitter and your neighbors.

6. Certain restaurants have based their 1998 budgets on the assumption that you will remain a regular.

7. To avoid finding out just how quickly your friends and co-workers would get over your departure.

8. Because getting mad at another newspaper just wouldn’t be the same.

9. To hone your Spokane accent.

10. Because you like your rut.

Reader challenge: Come up with a locally-themed way to fill in the blank, “Will ( ) for food.”

Recipes for memorable dining: Joann Caputo asked her second-graders at Spokane’s St. Charles School to write down instructions for preparing a turkey dinner.

For that, we give thanks.

“1. Buy a turkey. 2. Put garlic on it. 3. Make it crispy. 4. Put salt on it. 5. Put turkey juice on it. 6. Add pepper. 7. And eat it!” - Hannah

“1. Get the turkey. 2. Get teriyaki sauce. 3. Stuffing. 4. Frutsalad. 5. Salad. 6. Jallo. 7. Peas.” - Taylor

“Get the heart out of the turkey. Get the guts out. Sprinkle some pepper. Put the turkey in the oven.” - Sam

“1. Put turkey in oven. 2. Turn oven to about 200 degrees. 3. Cook for about 15 minutes. 4. Take out and eat. ” - James

We wish we could share every one of the kids’ papers because they’re all good. But here are a few highlights from the rest of the class.

“Clean guts,” “Take out the guts and bones,” “Bake it 4 degrees,” “Take the chicken bone out,” “Put it in the microwave,” “Take out the fat,” “Put it under a stove,” and “Poot grease in the turkey.”

A little girl named Alyssa even offered a serving suggestion: “Put it on a lovely dish.”

Why their best friends are special: “In addition to the joy of being on the same wavelength and sharing admiration for one another, it’s the little odd quirks that are so endearing.” - Mary Ruud

“She puts up with me.” - Nancy Robinson

Today’s Slice question (fill in the blanks): Life in Spokane is one unending episode of “Lifestyles of the ( ) and ( ).”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Drawing

MEMO: The Slice appears Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Write The Slice at P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210; call (509) 459-5470; fax (509) 459-5098. When it comes to saying “Howdy” in a natural way, longtime North Idaho residents are tough to beat.