The Slice: Perhaps it’s a whiff at one family’s future

Ever hear something and wonder if you have just witnessed the birth of a family phrase destined to be repeated for decades?

I saw this preschool boy in downtown Spokane the other day. He was with a woman I assumed to be his mother. They were out on a sidewalk and passed a restaurant venting a pleasing kitchen aroma.

The little boy smiled and excitedly said, “So much smell.”

Slice reader Doug Kimball’s approach re: Friday the 13th: “I plan to not walk under any black cats.”

Second chance: If your planned Jan. 1 personal reinvention didn’t really happen, do not despair. You can take another run at resolutions in 10 days, when the Lunar New Year rolls around on Jan. 23.

The Slice will help things along by offering you a choice of 10 anthems.

“Blue Moon,” “It’s Only a Paper Moon,” “Dancin’ in the Moonlight,” “Moondance,” “Everyone’s Gone to the Moon,” “Moon River,” “Bad Moon Rising,” “Moonshadow,” “Dark Side of the Moon,” “Harvest Moon.”

If there had never been an Air Force base here: No readers said this. So I will.

If there had never been an Air Force base here, it would not be the case that seemingly 45 percent of the rental properties in Spokane are owned by military retirees.

Re: last Friday’s discussion of singalong musicals: “You didn’t mention ‘Paint Your Wagon,’ which would require no changes to be about Spokane,” wrote Larry Parker.

Today’s Slice question: If you experience some personal crisis or life-altering loss but are not religious, how do you respond to those who employ faith-based language and imagery when seeking to comfort you?

A) Just say “Thank you.” B) Say “Well, that’s not really part of my worldview, but I appreciate the sentiment.” C) Say “You’ve chosen a poor time to proselytize.” D) Say “Either you don’t really know me or do not care about MY beliefs, but I am going to assume your remarks are well-intended.” E) Just smile and say nothing. F) Say “I wish I thought that were true.” G) Other.