Cindy Hval

Some siblings look so much alike it’s hard to tell them apart. Not my four sons. While there’s a familial resemblance, they aren’t mistaken for each other. Their temperaments and talents are equally dissimilar. But during a conversation with my youngest, I discovered that when comes to choosing friends, my children are very much alike. One afternoon, Sam slumped into the car after school, his eyes brimming with tears. “Tough day?” I asked.

Irv Zakheim, president and CEO of Zak Designs, enjoys golfing and supporting local children’s charities. Eleven years ago he combined the two activities in a small golf tournament and barbecue, inviting friends and business associates to join him. “We started out fairly small,” he said. “We got to play golf and everything was good.” He estimates they raised $12,000 during that first tournament. But the Zak! Charity Open didn’t stay small.

When three out of six people in your household play or coach soccer, the World Cup becomes a very big deal. Consequently, at Casa Hval from June 11 to July 11, vacation days, mealtimes and social activities all revolved around game time. Which wasn’t as bad as you may think. Soccer is one of the few sports I actually understand and even enjoy. The notable exception being the “offside” call. This rule has been explained to me by 10-year-olds, professional soccer players, volunteer coaches, referees and Wikipedia. It has been diagramed for me on chalkboards and clipboards. I have watched demonstrations in which grapes, olives and popcorn were used to depict players and positions.

Oscar Wilde said that discontent is the first step in the progress of a man or nation. However, for me, discontent often leads to a prolonged battle with technology. If whimpering like a baby is progress, well then I’m evolving at a rapid rate. Recently, when the numbers on my cell phone keypad grew so worn I could no longer read them, I reluctantly decided to get a new phone. The world of cell phone technology has changed since my last purchase. My once cutting-edge, sleek flip-phone is now considered a quaint antique.

An agency that helps children find homes at last has a home of its own. On Tuesday, Olive Crest will host an open house at its new North Side location. Eastern Washington area director Carol Plischke said since the organization opened locally in 2006, the staff has worked out of their homes and used donated space for classes and training. Now, the private foster care agency has plenty of space to do what they do best: help kids and educate families.

Cyclists on the Trail of the Coeur d’ Alenes have a new viewpoint at the trailhead just north of Plummer, Idaho. On May 29, the Coeur d’Alene Tribe Veterans Memorial was dedicated. Gov. Butch Otter gave the keynote address and tribal veterans from across the U.S. attended the event. After seeing photos of the magnificent steel sculpture created by Virgil “Smoker” Marchand of Omak, I knew I had to see it in person. So, last Friday I made a pilgrimage to Plummer.

Sunday morning. Same routine, same rush to get everyone out the door in an attempt to make it to church on time. Same route with the same irritating Sunday drivers. But two weeks ago, our Sunday sameness was interrupted. “Look at that guy!” my husband exclaimed. A car had stopped in the middle of Lincoln Road and a man was standing near the driver’s door, talking to someone. That someone was a small boy wandering down the center of the street.