Tuned In To Knowledge
Victor McFarland doesn’t care about Ellen’s coming out or Rachel’s rocky relationship with Ross.
The powerless television in this 13-yearold’s Coeur d’Alene home doesn’t tempt him. Even if he could watch television, Victor wouldn’t. He has better things to do.
“Once it’s gone, you don’t really miss it a lot,” he says. “Turning it off freed up so much of my time. I’m glad it’s gone.”
Barbara and Bob McFarland cut the cable to the family television six years ago to steer Victor’s younger brother into reading. Victor already read everything. National Geographic was his favorite, cover to cover.
The McFarlands figured they’d still receive local programming. They were wrong, but didn’t reconnect.
Victor can see now that he was addicted to TV.
“I’d watch every National Geographic show. I’d never miss,” he says. “I was like those people with their soap operas.”
Victor’s mind is so hungry that he would have grown impatient with television even if his parents hadn’t intervened. He wanted to know the world, its countries and cities, rivers and people. He wanted to know history and current events, flora and fauna.
He divided his free time between the atlas, his magazines and nonfiction books, coin collecting and operating his amateur radio, running and swimming. By sixth grade last year, his body was strong and his brain was bursting.
Victor aced the geography bee at Lakes Middle School that year and finished third in the state bee. This year, he won both with just a slight rise in blood pressure after he missed a question in the state’s preliminary round.
Among other questions, judges asked him where scientists had found dinosaur bones bigger than Tyrannosaurus Rex bones and what continental lake turns into a salt marsh for most of the year. (Answers: The Sahara Desert and Lake Eyre in Australia.)
“It was really tough to watch, especially when we don’t know the answers,” says Barbara, a gentle woman who raises bees and reads aloud every night with her family.
Victor will represent Idaho at the national geography bee in Washington, D.C., May 28. He’s studying his National Geographics back through 1994, pushed by no one but himself.
He’s confident and cool, but foresees one problem.
“If I make the top 10 round, I’ll be nervous because it’ll be televised,” he says, with a weak smile.
Which is the only experience for which Victor isn’t prepared.
Speedy prayer
You can say Bloomsday is a Spokane event, but Panhandle people have been preparing for it for months in snow, hail, rain, rain and rain, neglecting home, family, work and church.
But Coeur d’Alene’s Community United Methodist Church knew its flock would return - and even grow - as race day neared, training doubts grew and prayer replaced Power Bars in importance.
The church will hold a special Bloomsday Eve service Saturday for anyone in need of a spiritual boost before Sunday morning. Stop by at 6 p.m. across from Lake City High on Ramsey.
In tune
Sandpoint’s Donna Parrish and Laurel Wagers know the key to a good time. They pull our their instruments and serenade a few friends.
Diane Newcomer took in a recent concert in which Donna and Laurel played piano, recorder and a virginal (small harpsichord). They covered Mozart and Schubert, Debussey and Dvorak and even put out a program.
“They play together weekly just for the joy of making music,” Diane says. “Delightful.”
What surprises does your community offer? Clue in Cynthia Taggart, “Close to Home,” 608 Northwest Blvd., Suite 200, Coeur d’Alene 83814; FAX to 765-7149; call 765-7128; or e-mail to cynthiat@spokesman.com.
, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color photo