The Slice: The Slice lends a hand to help keep family’s tradition alive

Moscow’s Anne Dwelle turned to The Slice with an unusual lost-and-found request.

Here’s her story.

Dwelle, a lawyer, and her husband, who is retired from the University of Idaho’s plant science department, had come north last weekend. They wanted to check out some Spokane gardens.

“While visiting the Arbor Crest Winery on Mother’s Day, we came upon a family who for years had taken a family picture on that day under a certain tree at the winery,” she wrote. “This year, though, no one had thought to bring a camera.”

Dwelle overheard them lamenting this oversight. So she offered to help.

She volunteered to take a picture with her own digital camera and then mail it to them.

The family gratefully accepted. And the photo session went fine. (Well, the shadows are a bit dodgy, but Dwelle is an adoption specialist, not a professional photographer.)

“They were so excited,” said Dwelle.

But later, the perfect plan came undone.

“I lost the slip of paper upon which I’d written the e-mail address,” said Dwelle.

And she doesn’t have any idea how else to contact them.

“I don’t know the family in the picture, but I do know that they’re waiting for me to follow through with my promise.”

So, via e-mail, Dwelle turned to a mild-mannered reporter who writes for a fine, small-metropolitan newspaper.

“Would you consider printing the attached photo, in the hope that someone will recognize it?”

OK, faster than a speeding bullet, there it is.

“Full disclosure: 1. I have speculated more than once that a lot of guys driving pickups in Spokane don’t really need pickups.

2. I myself do not own a pickup.

3. Recently, while contemplating a certain task that involved hauling lots of boxes, I found myself thinking, “Boy, it would be nice to have a pickup.”

“Slice answers: Lots of readers have had their phone numbers since the 1950s.

“Multiple choice: Which kinds of guys do you prefer to see shirtless in their front yards?

A) Men with great bodies. B) Out-of-shape guys who obviously aren’t showing off their builds. C) Men with torso tattoos that say “If women can’t go topless in public, I shouldn’t be allowed to either.”

“Warm-up questions: What sort of music most predictably encourages unsafe driving? What are the most common pet names in North Idaho?

“Today’s Slice question: How many IQ points does Spokane lose when the temperature goes above 90?