This column reflects the opinion of the writer. Learn about the differences between a news story and an opinion column.
The Slice: Getting by with a little help from a friend
Mike George was driving up Southeast Boulevard by Lincoln Park when he spotted something in the road.
It was still quite a ways away. But then Mike realized what it was.
It was a turtle, attempting to cross the road. “It was clearly in peril from the heavy traffic in both directions.”
Not good.
“Then, from the opposite direction, comes a Fire Department SUV. The driver spots the turtle, stops, turns on his emergency lights to stop traffic, gets out of his vehicle, grabs the little creature and carries him to safety on the side of the road.”
Momentarily out of harm’s way back on the park side of the thoroughfare (and its welcoming pond), that little turtle might do well to remember the words of another traveler, Dorothy Gale of Kansas.
“If I ever go looking for my heart’s desire again, I won’t look any further than my own backyard.”
One newcomer’s observation: Peggy Tabar is enjoying being in Spokane and making new friends. But one thing puzzles her. “I’ve never encountered an area where everyone is so obsessed with green, lush lawns in spite of the dry climate where desert-scapes might make more sense.”
How not to start the day: “Your blog post on reasons for being late to school reminded me of a pretty rough day I had in high school,” wrote Kevin Dudley.
“One day during my junior year, I got into a car wreck on the only road out from my neighborhood. I saw just about everybody I knew drive by while I was standing on the sidewalk like a dope waiting for the police to arrive. The first officer to arrive happened to be the father of the girl I had just rear-ended. What are the odds?
“Anyway, I eventually got my ticket for following too close, drove to school with a corner of my truck smashed, arrived late, and my first class was AP U.S. History, taught by Mr. Isitt. (You may know him as Bob Isitt, or maybe Robert Issitt, a frequent Slice contributor.)”
Mr. Isitt started to give Kevin a hard time about being late but quickly realized he already felt low enough.
“For the record, Mr. Isitt was the greatest teacher I ever had and prepared me well for living in this world.”
Today’s Slice question: Do you make a point of finding out if your children’s or grandchildren’s friends have been vaccinated?
Write The Slice at P. O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210; call (509) 459-5470; email pault@spokesman.com. What’s your policy on correcting people who mispronounce the name of your city?