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The Slice: Our future’s so bright we have to wear shades

Most newcomers to Spokane who previously resisted wearing sunglasses because they regarded them as an affectation, soon see the light.

At least that’s my assumption. Because I simply cannot imagine tolerating the angle of sunlight here without shielding your eyes.

Yes, we have our share of sunglasses wearers who invite us to dig how cool they look. But the simple fact of the matter is that none of us really have to worry about being mistaken for those people, because everyone knows shades are survival gear here.

An early brush with Spokane: “When my sister and I were growing up in Fort Collins, Colo., we would spin the globe, close our eyes and stop it to see where we would live when we grew up,” wrote Jan Wall, a resident of Garfield, Wash. “My finger stopped the globe once on Spokane, and I was so proud that I knew it was Spo-can and not Spo-cane.

“When I graduated from high school, I considered WSU and UW before I chose the University of Colorado. Oddly enough, I finished my undergraduate degree at WSU and got my graduate degree at UW. The Northwest was obviously in the cards for me.”

Bear avoidance strategies: “Run faster than whomever I’m with.” – Barbara Olson

“I sit in my living room.” – Vera-Ora Winslow

“Don’t go anyplace where there are bears.” – Mike Altman

“Staying out of the woods.” – George Root

“Buy huckleberries already picked.” – Gary Polser

“Don’t go where the bears are.” – Fay Virene

Chances are, you can win a bet: If you know how far north Spokane is, compared to cities (say, Toronto or Montreal) that seem really northerly but aren’t when stacked up against our latitude.

So, it turns out there is a generation gap in the S-R newsroom: When it comes to recognizing the expression “space cadet.”

Next I’ll find out there are those in our midst who don’t realize the sunny-sounding oldie “Sunday Will Never Be the Same” is supposed to be a sad song.

Today’s Slice question: How often does someone with the same name as you (both first and last) show up in The Slice?

(I know that happens now and then. I’ve thought about requiring middle initials. But that has never seemed like the perfect solution.)

Write The Slice at P. O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210; call (509) 459-5470; email pault@spokesman.com. Steven Stuart said some of the places he had to sleep while in the Army infantry for 20 years turned him into a fan of RVs.

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