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The Slice: The signature was just the beginning
“When I was 9, my dad recognized Alan Page in a store and urged me to go ask for his autograph,” wrote Joanie Eppinga.
The Minnesota Viking and future pro football hall of famer signed and Joanie was exultant.
On the way home, her dad took a corner sharply and a pack of Camels slid out from under the driver’s seat. This after he had promised Joanie he had quit smoking.
“Horrified, I insisted that he pull over so I could throw the cigarettes away.”
He complied. “I got out of the car and, with the autograph tucked under my chin, used both hands to rip up the cigarettes and drop them between the bars of a sewer grate. Then I lifted my head a little and there went the autograph, down into the sewer.
“I can still see the dents on my dad’s hands from lifting the heavy sewer grate to retrieve the autograph so his daughter wouldn’t be disappointed twice in one day.”
Years ago, Barb Borgens and her Seahawks-loving friend Marcella found themselves in a Seattle restaurant where several Denver Broncos were signing autographs.
Marcella waited her turn then handed quarterback John Elway a piece of paper. After he wrote his name and gave it back, Marcella told him the Seahawks were going to crush him the next day and he wouldn’t be signing any more autographs.
“He snatched the piece of paper back from her and tore it into pieces,” recalled Borgens.
She said Marcella then picked up the pieces, eventually framed them and had an irresistible conversation piece for the rest of her life.
Life with lilacs: Wayne Sanders grew up in a Chicago suburb known as the Lilac Village.
In high school, he marched in that community’s lilac parade. After college he helped design and build his company’s float for that parade.
“So I was surprised to learn when I moved to Spokane that I had moved to the Lilac City.”
Welcome to the Hotel Lilac. You can check out any time you like, et cetera.
“Other than a brief three month stay in Colorado after college, I have never lived anywhere that didn’t have lilacs as part of its makeup and yearly activities. So I guess you could say they are in my blood.
“I have three different types of lilacs in my backyard and love the fragrance when they are in full bloom.”
Today’s Slice question: How can you tell your pets like Spokane?
Write The Slice at P. O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210; call (509) 459-5470; email pault@spokesman.com. Most responding readers said their lives don’t need fixing.