MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Posted by Sherry Fulton 
on Aug 22, 2015
 

 

The first week of August hangs at the very top of summer, the top of the live-long year, like the highest seat of a Ferris wheel when it pauses in its turning. The weeks that come before are only a climb from balmy spring, and those that follow a drop to the chill of autumn, but the first week of August is motionless, and hot. It is curiously silent, too, with blank white dawns and glaring noons, and sunsets smeared with too much color. Often at night there is lightning, but it quivers all alone.

 

~Natalie Babbitt, Tuck Everlasting

 
 

Dear CAL Friends,

I hope that you all had a great summer. If you are like me you are almost ready to stop weeding and mowing. This may be the first year that I am actually anxious for summer to end definitively. Like everyone, I would gladly give up the last days of summer to get an early end to the fire season. I’ve also been using and paying for too much water and too much air-conditioning. Monday last, I was turning right off Bottle Bay Rd. on to Highway 95 when I realized the verge was on fire and heading downhill towards Bill Jones Distributors. I called 911 and the firemen arrive quickly. It was a serious reminder of how fragile conditions are now.

 

I really just wanted to write to a quick greeting to you. My fabulous board will tell you what they have been up to while I enjoyed the greatest trip of my life to Kenya and Tanzania. If I could give a gift to everyone I know, it would be to send them to Africa. It was magical. Ask me about it and I will bore you to tears.

 

I returned near the first of July which began the parade of guests. I actually love to have people come, otherwise I would feel very isolated from my pre-Sandpoint life. It is always gratifying to see our area and town through the eyes of people who are not privileged to live here. I also attended two of the Festival concerts: Arlo Guthrie and the Symphony. You can really tell my age from my choices, can’t you?

 

I have a little story about Bizarre Bazaar that I want to share. I was working yesterday when I heard a very familiar and particularly sweet chime of a clock. When I looked around I saw the small mantle clock that I had grown up with starting about 60 years ago. Its case had been badly damaged in two LA earthquakes but the little Seth Thomas had continued to work. About 7 or 8 years ago I decided to take it to BizBaz where it was promptly bought by Charie Kerr and refurbished a bit by Matt. Every time I saw it at Charie’s house I regretted not having kept the “heirloom.” Yesterday it came back to me, and I was thrilled. It has a soft little chime that I can barely hear from my bedroom, but when I was awake during the night, it kept me informed of the time just has it had throughout my childhood. So thank you to Charie for loving it, and to Matt for fixing some of its scars. It is home again.

 

Our first Board meeting is September 2 where we will set the agenda for the year. I hope to see you all at our first general meeting on September 16. There will be another e-bulletin before then to remind you.

 

Lap up as much of the dregs of summer as you can.

 

Yours,

Sherry