This column reflects the opinion of the writer. Learn about the differences between a news story and an opinion column.
The Slice: The dual-personality holiday
It’s a balancing act.
How do you acknowledge the solemn reason for Memorial Day while also getting in the spirit of blowout sales, a day off from work and start-of-summer cookouts?
By remembering, of course.
Sometimes the sincerest expressions of gratitude happen without a word.
Seniority ought to be worth something: “Have you noticed that during every baseball game the ball girl always gives a foul ball to a kid?” wrote Dan Simmons of Medical Lake. “I have been to hundreds of baseball games and have never managed to get a foul ball. It is on my bucket list. Kids have years left to get a foul ball; I don’t have many left. Do you think they should change this practice of gross foul ball discrimination?”
Interesting thought, Dan. OK by me. But my main observation is if you are sitting that close to the field, make sure to keep your eyes on the action in case a screaming line drive gets fouled into the seats.
Sharing recipes: “I was accused (multiple times) by a close friend of modifying the zucchini bread recipe she had asked for because her crust never felt the same as my crust,” wrote Victoria Van Inwegen. “She asked if I sprinkled sugar on it. She asked if I gave her the correct temperature and cooking duration. I was desperate because I could tell she actually thought I was hoarding some special information from her! I finally realized that it must be because of my method of storage of the cooked bread. I finally admitted to her that my ‘breadbox’ is really my microwave oven and that must account for the difference in the crust.”
And here I thought mine was the only family that used the microwave for baked-goods storage.
A plaque could say “Pat Hardin slept here”: Got a note from Slice reader Ron Hardin.
“My wife, Pat, retires this year on June 10 after 36 years of teaching, mostly in first grade and mostly in Spokane Catholic schools. That is special in itself.
“But, her first year of teaching was at Priest Lake, Idaho. She lived in what is now the Priest Lake Public Library. It is on the National Historic Registry.”
Which got him wondering. How many others have lived in a place on that list?
Today’s Slice question: How many specific features of your home are not up to code?
Write The Slice at P. O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210; call (509) 459-5470; email pault@spokesman.com. Susie Etten keeps a log of headlines she initially misread.