We could all use a helping hand like Gary’s
There’s a Spokane Valley resident named Gary Weber who voluntarily clears neighbors’ sidewalks each time there is a significant snowfall.
His reach extends several blocks.
One of his fans thought he deserved recognition as a neighborhood good guy.
The Slice agrees. So here’s a salute to Gary and others like him.
•Slice answers: “I nominate my wife, Stacey Schneider, for best parallel parker,” wrote Dennis Schneider of Medical Lake. “Some years ago, we had a huge 1974 Chrysler Newport. One day in 1996, we found a cramped parking spot near Sacred Heart. A drivers’ ed car full of students was behind us. Stacey pulled up even with the front car, put the Chrysler in reverse, and slid that tank back into the space slicker than greased owl poop, getting it perfect on the first try.
“The drivers’ ed car pulled up alongside, and the instructor gave Stacey a big thumbs-up.”
Dave Holtzheimer of Colfax wrote, “My wife, Sandy, has parallel parked an 18-wheel semi-truck in New York City. This was with a large sleeper-cab tractor and 53-foot trailer. Back-in parking on the right, blind side.”
Cheney’s Sue Quinn nominated herself. It’s possible that her grandchildren’s earliest memories will include recollections of trips to downtown Spokane and hearing Quinn say, “Watch this, kids, Grandma is the best parallel parker you will ever know.”
Her dad made her practice parking between garbage cans.
Carol Woodward told a similar story. “I can parallel park with the best of them thanks to my father,” she wrote.
Her dad also employed the garbage cans instructional technique in teaching his three daughters.
•More Spokanized Jane Austen titles: Here are a few from Slice reader Bill Mahaney: “Meth and Culpability,” “Dense and Vulnerability,” “Pitbull Park,” “Northwest Tabby.”
Jim Collier suggested “Northtowne Abbey.”
And a colleague offered, “Mechanic’s Pride and Prejudice.”
•As opposed to cowboy hats in certain other states: “I don’t believe ball caps are worn during times of intimacy in Spokane,” wrote Mack Stanhope. “But I could be wrong.”
•Feedback on the Monday mini-Slice: “I do agree with you that I would be far more interested in women’s magazines if these publications got real,” wrote Tina Piaskowski of Post Falls. “For example, how about ‘Teaching Your Man Correct Toilet Seat Etiquette’ or ‘10 Ways to Convince Your Friends to Remove Their Shoes Before Entering.’ “
•Today’s Slice question: Is KREM’s Rochelle Ritchie the best-looking person in Spokane?