The Slice: Family visitor makes one appreciate the ‘Lilac City’

I think my sister-in-law might be Spokane’s biggest fan. She lives in Michigan. But she enjoys coming for visits.

And Jeannie’s infectious enthusiasm for this city and our area never fails to remind me to not take certain things for granted. I’m telling you, if everyone here could spend some time with her, our civic self-image would soar.

Maybe I ought to try to line up an economic development grant and figure out a way to have her take turns staying with different Spokane families.

Trust me. In no time at all, her hosts would find themselves looking around at the Lilac City and muttering, “Yeah, that is pretty cool” or “Come to think of it, I guess not everyplace has that.”

“Yule tradition: Spokane Valley’s Karen Burgard grew up in Alaska with a sister who suffers from severe allergies and asthma. Because a real Christmas tree might have triggered an allergic reaction, the family opted for a fake one. But the precautions didn’t stop there.

Each year, the family would fill the bathtub with water and wash the tree branch-by-branch to make sure it was dust-free.

And for years and years, Burgard thought every family did this.

“Canadian money vs. U.S. currency: “In my opinion, it’s no contest,” wrote John May. “Canadian money, both coin and paper, wins hands down.”

Joan Tracy seconded the motion. “Canadian money is much more interesting than American,” she wrote.

“Readers meeting the challenge: The task was to combine a Christmas carol and the name of a TV show to come up with the title for an unlikely prime-time holiday special.

“All I Want for Christmas is My Two and a Half Men.” — Dana Freeborn

“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Survivor.” — JoAnne Scott

“In the matter of incongruous bumper-stickers: Cathy Kraus shakes her head at vehicles adorned with “Visualize World Peace” stickers that are being driven by apparent maniacs.

“How abut visualizing safe and sane driving first,” she wrote.

“How you stuck to your 2005 New Year’s resolution: “Ahahahahaha!” wrote Jan Jesberger.

Bill Mahaney said his secret was resolving not to go on a diet. “And I stuck to it,” he said.

And a reader named Connie said the key to her success was resolving to start her 2005 resolution in 2006.

“One last note on the city-pronunciation theme: Janet Dodds wants The Slice to campaign for Coeur d’Alene to be pronounced “Kur d’Alene” (as she remembers it from the good old days) instead of “Core d’Alene.”

“Warm-up question: How do you react when you see a stranger wearing a sweatshirt emblazoned with the name of your alma mater and that person is behaving in a decidedly unappealing manner?

“Today’s Slice question: What do you imagine people driving by your home after dark have to say about your Christmas decorations?