“Spokane
is just a big Lewiston,” our son Clint observed while he was still in high
school. It’s the same stuff in the stores, he said -- just more of it. For years we had traveled to Spokane to get things we couldn't find in Orofino or Lewiston, but when I thought about it, I realized Clint was right. Change can be so subtle.
Two weeks ago we drove to Spokane to pick up Mike's new pistol only to discover that paperwork had to be completed before the gun would be released to him. That meant we had to make a second trip for the gun -- and turns out we only had 30 days. So, today was the day for the return trip,and to make the trip count, Mike made a list of geocaches and I
made a list of stores I'd like to visit.
We
were off by 7:25 and were 20 miles out when I realized I had forgotten to eat
breakfast – yes, totally forgotten. Fortunately I had packed some applesauce
oatmeal raisin cookies. I called them breakfast cookies and ate two.
Temps
were in the 30s. It was foggy and traffic was slow. Our first stop was the Horn
School Safety Rest Stop where Mike found two geocaches.
Then we stopped again
at an exit called Plaza where he readily found another cache.
Our
next stop was just past the tiny community of Spangle where the divided highway
begins – about 18 miles from Spokane at the old
Spangle Gun Club, which looks abandoned. Another vehicle was already
parked at that spot – a mini-van. The
minute we stopped the driver, Dave, hopped out and approached us. He was
driving from Rosalia, he said, and he erroneously thought he had enough gas to
make it to Spokane. He was talking with roadside assistance and they couldn’t
understand the location. He wondered if we had noticed the mile marker. We
hadn’t, but Mike gave him the cords from the GPS, then set about finding the
geocache.
Next
time out of the van, Dave saw Mike poking around the base of a tree. “Are you
getting a geocache?” he called to Mike. “Can my children join you?” Out of the
van hopped two boys (7 and 9) and a little girl (4). Suddenly this unfortunate experience had become an adventure for the children. They each brought a trinket to exchange. Nellie
was so happy to be with kids.
Once
the geocache was re-hidden, Dave asked if Mike would drive him back to Spangle
to get gas at a station there. Roadside assistance couldn’t get to him for an
hour and a half, he said. We were happy to take him to Spangle, which was
probably not two miles. He said more than once, “I’m so glad you folks
stopped.”
Mike
and I aren’t strangers to trials on the road and have been grateful for the help
of strangers. It feels especially good to help people one-on-one. Mike and Dave
got the van started, then we waved good-bye as they headed back to Spangle for
more gas and we drove on to Spokane.
Since
Mike’s errand was in Spokane Valley, we went directly there. While I shopped
Target, Mike went to the White Elephant. While I shopped Hobby Lobby, Mike sat
in the car and read the paper. While Mike visited the gun shop, I shopped
Hancock Fabrics. Didn’t buy much anywhere – just looked around. KW
That was a fun day! It's nice that you were able to help that fellow. Too often over here strangers will approach with sob stories of misfortune but they don't want help, just money.
ReplyDeletePeople in general are wary of getting involved in roadside situations, and rightly so. Gas was available within a 3-mile round trip I'd guess, and I teased Dave that he could have walked. He said if we hadn't happened along, he would have. It was good, though, that he didn't have to leave his family in the van on a cold day. Dave is a pastor in Rosalia.
ReplyDeleteKathy,
ReplyDeleteYou will have to tell me where the Hobby Lobby is located. I did not realize there was one in Spokane. I read about/hear about that store on blogs/podcasts, but did not think I would go to one.
And I agree with Hallie, but it is good that this was not one of those situations - good on you!
Hobby Lobby is at 13902 E. Indiana, Spokane Valley. It's actually across the street from the Spokane Valley Mall. It's a large store. They have lots of home decorating stuff, some fabrics and yarns. They aren't open on Sunday.
ReplyDeleteDan has always stopped to help people, too. That's when I wish I hadn't read some awful story in a magazine or the paper, but I guess I'd rather he was like that. And in the woods, people really depend on one another for help.
ReplyDeleteNext trip to Spokaloo, I'm heading out to Hobby Lobby, too. :-) (Hmm, just noticed what a poet I am!! LOL)