Three Beautiful Things 04-30-2026: Breakfast at the Oregon Trail Deli, Relaxing in My Room, Spinning Reels

1. All of us who've been hanging out at the Wildhorse Resort and Casino this week buzzed about thirty miles east of the resort to Meacham, OR in order to do eat at the awesome Oregon Trail Store and Deli. The couple who operate this business put out great food. We've had superb breakfasts at the Oregon Trail and fantastic lunches, too. I indulged in today's breakfast special and enjoyed a platter of biscuits and gravy with sausage links. 

Jim headed back to Nampa today so we bade him farewell, very happy that he made the trip up and that we got to spend time together. 

Terry also headed back and I rode back to the resort with him and we know we'll see each other again pretty soon, possibly in May and for certain in June. 

2. I had catching up to do this morning and this afternoon. I needed to blog and work puzzles, the things I usually do first thing in the morning at home. I also napped after eating such a great meal at the Oregon Trail and having had a so-so night's sleep.

3. Ed, Don, Mike, and I got together in the afternoon at the Wildhorse's Sports Bar and had a good session of solid yakkin'. We agreed we were unsure when or if any one of us would want an evening meal, so we agreed we'd all be on our own. 

I spun reels for a while and then ate a half a deli sandwich and then spun reels some more. It was fun to play a ton of different games and by the time I quit and ate some ice cream at the deli and headed to my room, I was happy that my luck ran pretty good. 

Three Beautiful Things 04-29-2026: Breakfast Together, Some Pendleton Streets, Steakhouse Dinner

 1. Before we went our separate ways afterward, Jim, Don, Mike, Terry, Ed, and I met for breakfast in the Traditions restaurant and yakked about all kinds of things over a delicious breakfast served by a witty and fake-cranky server who made us laugh and we returned the favor. 

2. My separate way was to return to my room and solve puzzles and blog before I spent some time spinning reels. Later on, I drove to Pendleton and spent time trying to get a better sense of the lay of the land. I haven't spent enough time just getting to know Pendleton better and made some progress today. 

3. We old men gathered again at the resort's Plateau Steakhouse for a delicious dinner together and more conversation and storytelling. We enjoyed our meals and continued to learn more about what we've all been up to. We also raised a toast to our great friend Bruce Larsen and had fun telling stories about him and remembering the great things about him that made our long friendships with him so enjoyable and significant. 

Three Beautiful Things 04-28-2026: Breakfast at Dave's Bar and Grill, A Fantastic Country Drive, Dinner with Colette

1. I picked up Ed around 6:30 this morning and we beelined straight from Kingston to Spokane Valley for breakfast at Dave's Bar and Grill. I hadn't eaten at Dave's since last October and it all came back to me how much I enjoy this place. First of all, it's a morning hangout for codgers like Ed and me and so, as before, we sat and let snippets of great bs come our way and even though we were near the intersection of East Sprague and Pines Road, it felt like we were at any one of the Silver Valley's bs joints -- like The Lounge, for example. 

Then the excellent quality of the food came back to me, especially the fried potatoes covered in gravy. 

I finished the plate of potatoes and gravy, scrambled eggs, sausage patty, and English muffins with strawberry jam and knew I wouldn't need to eat anything until dinner around 5:30. 

Dave's Bar and Grill sent us off to Oregon nourished and happy. 

2. We drove from Spokane to Colfax to Dayton, Waitsburg, and Dixie, continuing on through Walla Walla and Milton-Freewater, and ended our drive just after noon at the Wildhorse Resort and Casino.

It was a spectacular drive. We enjoyed being off the freeway and the variety of landscapes, much of it farm land.

Upon arrival, I took a nap, started to get caught up on word puzzles and blogging, and headed downstairs where I found Ed, Mike, Don, and Jim relaxing at the lobby bar. I spun a few reels and then returned to my room to get ready for dinner. 

3. As we try to do every time I come to Pendleton, Colette and I met at the Thai Crystal and we enjoyed delicious food and nearly three hours of scintillating conversation about Colette's work, her family, classical music, books, podcasts, and writers. 

Our conversation uplifted me. 

When I returned to the resort, Ed, Mike, Terry, Don, and Jim were enjoying whiskey time in Ed's room. I couldn't join in the whiskey sipping, but I did join in the conversation and we Silver Valley boys had a lot to talk about from the past and the present. 

We couldn't help but feel the presence  of our lifelong friend Lars. His death is fresh in our minds and on our hearts, but I think we took some comfort in telling stories about him and enjoying great memories.  

Three Beautiful Things 04-27-2026: Packing, Talking, Stopping

 1.  On Tuesday, April 28th, six of us guys raised in Kellogg will get together for three nights of fun at the Wildhorse Resort and Casino and in the nearby area.  Here's who will join together: Ed Hanson, Mike Stafford, Terry Turner, Don Windisch, Jim Lewis, and I. 

It took me all day to pack because I am fastidious about not forgetting anything whether clothes, electronics, medicine, stuff for the bathroom, etc.  I'm less likely to make mistakes if I don't rush. 

2. When Debbie and I participate in cultural events, it usually takes a day before we can really talk about it. We talked some on Sunday about our experience hearing Verdi's Requiem, but we got into it in much more detail today. I learned a lot listening to Debbie and am really glad we don't push each other to comment on these things when the experience is fresh. We both need time. 

3. Michael Tilson Thomas, the recently deceased giant of classical music, especially American, said that "the most important thing about music is what happens when it stops . . ."

I''m going to leave his insight uncommented on, hoping you'll ponder it. 

Three Beautiful Things 04-26-2026: Hearing Verdi's *Requiem*, More of Verdi's *Requiem*?, The Snake Pit

1. To prepare for the combined efforts of the Spokane Symphony Orchestra, Spokane Symphony Chorale, and four visiting soloists (Caroline Corrales, soprano; Linda Baird, mezzo-soprano; Adam Diegel, tenor; and Mark Walters, baritone) to perform Giuseppe Verdi's monumental Messa da requiem, Debbie and I attended an hour long lecture on Thursday, presented by the symphony's conductor, James Lowe and then today we listened to the pre-concert lecture given by Lowe and the chorale director, Dr. Meg Stohlman. I also did some preparatory reading and note taking. 

This slim amount of preparation helped me to a degree take in the Requiem at today's matinee performance, but I almost immediately recognized that nothing I might have done would have prepared me for the sublime power of Verdi's composition nor for the overwhelming energy of a ninety-seven member choir, an expanded orchestra, and the four soloists exploring the terror, pleading, glory, awe, hopefulness, quaking, and overall awe of death and of facing the trepidation of the fires of eternity and the beauty of eternal light.

Verdi patterned this requiem after the Roman Catholic Requiem Mass and wrote it after the death of the great Italian writer Alessandro Manzoni. While on the face of it, Verdi's masterpiece can be seen as exploring Manzoni's own fears that the misadventures of his youth would never be forgiven, in actuality, Verdi makes music out of universal fears and hopes and uncertainty about our morality and what might follow death.

2. When the concert ended and after the audience showered vigorous applause upon all the performers and the two conductors and the Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox began to empty out, Debbie and I sat silent until the theater was nearly empty. 

As we left the Fox and walked to the car, Debbie said, "You know how when we drove to Kellogg from New York (in 2021) and planned our trip around dog friendly breweries? How about if we start looking for performances of Verdi's Requiem and how about if we travel to listen to it whenever and wherever we can?" 

I loved that idea.  

3. Being the mortals we are, while we had been spiritually challenged, blown away, and nourished by this afternoon's concert, we also needed to satisfy our physical hunger. Neither of us could remember the last time we ate at the Snake Pit in Kingston/Enaville and we decided to give it a try. 

It was a solid choice. I don't remember which burger Debbie ordered, but she happily ate half of it and half of her tots at the Snake Pit and took the rest home. I very much enjoyed my steak sandwich on a fresh hoagie roll and the accompanying fries. Our server was efficient, friendly, and witty, a delightful combination! 

By the time we walked in the Snake Pit and sat down, we were coming back to Earth again and while Verdi will live with us for a long time, his Requiem no longer dominated our thoughts and feelings, no longer had struck us nearly dumb. 

Three Beautiful Things 04-25-2026: Cardboard, Pizza Party, Preparing for Verdi's *Requiem*

1. I mean it's just cardboard. Why does it make me so happy to get cardboard boxes out of the garage and the house? I don't know, but I made a quick trip to the transfer station today and got rid of about fifteen boxes. I returned home inexplicably giddy!

2. Carol and Christy are at Priest Lake for a women's weekend with friends and we invited Paul over for pizza. We enjoyed a spinach/feta and a Hawaiian pizza along with some wings and had fun yakkin' together about topics ranging from learning French to watching videos of people reacting to hearing songs like "25 or 6 to 4" for the first time. 

3. I spent time today reading more about Verdi's Requiem in preparation for Sunday afternoon's performance of Verdi's take on this Catholic mass. It will be given by the Spokane Symphony and Chorale.  

Three Beautiful Things 04-24-2026: Where's That Book?, Tacos at the Elks, Yakkin' at The Lounge

 1. Before I go to sleep, it's best if I do not read material on either my laptop or phone. I'd like to read Lonesome Dove, but it's a big book, one I handle better sitting up. 

I've been wanting to read Jess Walter's latest novel, So Far Gone before sleeping, but I couldn't find it. Debbie and I are at the beginning of a slow project reimagining the old Vizio room and that's meant having books in boxes and unorganized in other ways. 

I went through all the boxes looking for So Far Gone and then I discovered I'd put it at the bottom of a pile on a bottom shelf hidden by a stack of boxes. 

I don't know what I was thinking of when I put that book there, but I've let go of that mystery. 

Tonight I read the first few pages of the book and I'm pumped to move forward and very happy that I'll relax at bedtime with a good book and not screens. 

2. I joined Ed and Nancy at a table at today's Taco Night at the Elks and before long Pam and Frank joined us. We enjoyed building our tacos and talked about a bunch of stuff: nurses, surgeons, current KHS band performances, camping, and a hot of other topics. 

3. We ended our evening at The Lounge. Debbie had been there for a while and was having a great time talking with different people at the bar and at a smattering of tables. When Ed and Nancy left, I went to the bar and had a fun conversation with Simon, during which Ryan walked in and told us about his new job. Juli Z. and I then had a serious talk about her late brother, John, a close friend of mine at NIC, and her son, Jared. Julie wants Jared and me to meet. Fitz and I talked about retirement and fantasy baseball and Cas and I reviewed fantasy baseball action as well. 

Debbie loved all the conversations she had, including at the table where Ed, Nancy, and I sat and I enjoyed yakking with the people I got to see, too. 

It was another fine time in uptown Kellogg. 

Three Beautiful Things 04-23-2026: James Lowe Lecture on Verdi's *Requiem*, Exhibits at the MAC, Back to Ocean's Depth

 1. Debbie and I went to Spokane today. It turned out we overloaded our minds with stimulation, in a very good way. We arrived home very tired but invigorated and with a lot on our minds. 

Our day began at Spokane's Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture (MAC) at noon. Spokane Symphony conductor and music director James Lowe gave a nearly one hour lecture on the single piece the symphony will perform Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon (when we'll go): Giuseppe Verdi's Requiem, first performed in 1874. 

The way Lowe developed context for the Requiem through looking at the history of Italy and the story of Italian novelist Alessandro Manzoni, whose death inspired Verdi to compose this requiem. He then played and commented upon excerpts from the Requiem, helping us better understand the range of emotions Verdi explores about death, the way the orchestra and chorale and vocal soloists work together as Verdi's masterpiece develops, and his view that Verdi wrote the Requiem for us, for us living mortals, as a way to move us to examine our own feelings, ideas, and beliefs about being mortal, presenting the fact of mortality as a reality that continually rises up in our minds and one that we deal with continually as people we know die.

I think this was the third time I've gone to one of these lectures. 

Each time, listening to James Lowe and the ways he integrates history, linguistics, spiritual experience, literature, art, movies, cuisine, and other subjects outside of music into his lectures, it takes me back to my days at Whitworth College where I was joyfully introduced to the wonders of interdisciplinary studying and thinking and began to learn about the ways the different kinds of liberal arts connect with each other. 

So in a way I find moving, a way that goes way beyond nostalgic sentimentality, listening to James Lowe makes me feel like the eager to learn 20 year I was when I enrolled at Whitworth and my life expanded into a love for the liberal arts in the broadest sense of that word and entered into a lifelong source of joy and stimulation. 

2. Lowe ended his lecture and I couldn't move right away. Luckily, Debbie and I were seated in the middle of our row and no one needed us to move, so I could just sit and let what I'd just experienced sink in. 

After a few minutes, we left the MAC's auditorium and walked over the MAC's galleries where we wanted to look at two exhibits: Brick by Brick: We Built this City, a display of seven iconic Spokane buildings constructed to scale with LEGO bricks and James Lavadour: Land of Origin, a retrospective of five decades of Lavadour's paintings and prints exploring the power and beauty of Eastern Oregon landscapes. 

The LEGO exhibit was astonishing for its craft and ingenuity. I never built anything with LEGOs. Our grandson, David, was obsessed with them as a boy. Through David I witnessed how far the LEGO world had come -- LEGO sets were available for everything from Monet paintings to Marvel characters to castles and floral bouquets. 

Honestly, though, what the builders who created these replicas of places like St. John's Cathedral, the Davenport Hotel, the Spokesman-Review building and others pushed my mind way beyond anything I had imagined possible to do with LEGOs. 

James Lavadour's painting exploded off the walls of the MAC. They are not representational works (they don't look like photographs), but are expressive pieces that endow the landscapes with power, spirit, fire, mythology, and other ways that Lavadour experiences them. 

In a very positive way, Debbie and I found this exhibit overwhelming. The paintings are large, presented in sets, like of nine paintings, and numerous works are on display. 

I hope we'll return. I want to feel the power of these paintings again, but, as today, in short amounts of time. 

I bought the coffee table book that was published to accompany this exhibit and look forward to learning more about Lavadour and his work from it. 

3. We lunched at The Elk and then tested the limits of how much beauty we could absorb in an afternoon by going to the same exhibit I visited on Wednesday at the Chase Gallery. 

So, Debbie and I both entered the world of life deep in the ocean through paintings, videos, and sculptures. 

We both enjoyed these works, but we didn't last long.

Our energy ran out. 

We'd taken in a lot and reached our limit, but what an awesome way to get worn out. 

Three Beautiful Things 04-22-2026: My Skin is Healthy, A Bagel and a Transplant Open House, Under the Ocean Art at City Hall

 1. I have twice a year dermatology appointments at North Idaho Dermatology in CdA because, being a transplant recipient, a take medications that make my skin more susceptible to cancer. Nicole Rock examined me head to toe and found no problems and said something, in her most professional dermatological voice, that I don't ever remember being told before: "You have fantastic skin." 

That no problems have developed is a huge relief to me, but, simultaneously, it makes perfect sense. 

I hate being out in the sun and, when I am, I cover my skin, wear a broad-rimmed hat, and, when at my best (ahem), put on sunscreen. 

I used to enjoy the sun a lot, but that enjoyment eroded and now has disappeared over the last several years. 

A good development, as it turns out, and I'll do my best to remain vigilant. 

2. I've been to The Scoop at 25th and Monroe in Spokane twice in the last six weeks or so for ice cream. 

But, Hidden Bagel was closed. 

Hidden Bagel shares business space with The Scoop and closes at 1 p.m.

Today, I buzzed straight to Hidden Bagel as soon as I arrived in Spokane and enjoyed a sesame seed bagel with cream cheese. It sustained me for my visit to Providence Sacred Heart. 

I made a quick trip, first, to the pharmacy and took care of a couple of very simple things I needed help with regarding a prescription and my change in payment method.

Then I attended an open house at the transplant clinic, an event in recognition of this being Donate Life Month.  

My experience over the last eight years with this transplant program has been, without fail, positive. 

I enjoyed being able to tell some of the staff how much I have appreciated all they've done to help me navigate this transplant and I enjoyed being in the same room with other transplant recipients who also seemed happy and who also looked like they were getting along well (as I am). 

3. If you read this blog with any regularity, you know that Debbie and I go often to Spokane and recently we decided to participate in Auntie's Bookstore's Science/Nature Book Club. One member of the book club, Meghan Jones, creates paintings and is part of an art collective, Unseen Ocean Collective, with three other women. 

Currently, the collective has an exhibit at the Chase Gallery, located in the basement of Spokane's City Hall, entitled, America's Hidden Coral Gardens: The Fine Art of the Deep Sea. 

I wanted to see Meghan Jones' paintings and the other work on display and so I visited the gallery.  I found the exhibit invigorating. I loved these paintings, videos, and sculptures of life deep in the ocean. I especially enjoyed the different styles of Kierstin Keller's paintings vis a vis Meghan Jones' works and what Nilanjana Dass explored of the deep sea's beauty in her sculptures. 

I drove home feeling very happy. My skin is in good shape. I found a good bagel. I'm in good shape with the pharmacy. I'm under the care of a solid clinic. And Spokane has a handsome art gallery right outside the City Council Chambers in the basement of City Hall and is exhibiting wonderful art making worlds profoundly remote from us visible.

 

Three Beautiful Things 04-21-2026: Editing, Reading, Comforting

 1. I did a little editing on a first draft of an obituary for Bruce Larsen. I don't know when it will be sent out or published, but the process is underway. Stu got it going. 

2. I am determined (but I've been determined before about this!) to give all the energy I have for reading over the Lonesome Dove and not get sidetracked like I have about eighty times before. I made progress today and being back into this book rekindles my admiration for Larry McMurtry's brilliant writing and storytelling. 

3. A little editing. A good session reading. Topped it all off with comfort: Debbie whipped up a simple dinner of tomato soup, grilled cheese sandwiches, and an endive salad. 

Then a surprise. Umpqua Triple Chocolate ice cream suddenly showed up and I couldn't and didn't resist. 

Three Beautiful Things 04-20-2026: Transplant Checklist, Big Questions, Granola Bars

1. Recently, the transplant clinic sent me a letter with a list of things that need to be done as my transplant anniversary (May 11th) approaches.  I'm in good shape with most of the items on the list. I'm up to date on my flu shot, pneumonia vax, colonoscopy, dermatology evaluation, bone scan, and dental check ups. 

I am going to Sacred Heart on May 4th for labs and I wrote to Nurse Jenn today hoping I can also have a chest x-ray and kidney ultrasound performed that day, too. 

If it works out, then I will be all ready for my May 11th appointment at the clinic with everything on that list taken care of. 

2. Paul came over and did some around the house jobs for Debbie and, as he was leaving, he said, "Oh! Before I go, I have a theological question." So, for the next half an hour or so Debbie, Paul, and I discussed Genesis 1, a calm, insightful, and searching conversation. When it comes to discussing theology, the three of us are much more interrogative than declarative. 

3. While in New York, Debbie made granola bars for the household, a handy item to tuck in a carry out lunch or eat as a snack at home. Debbie made a batch here in Kellogg and these delicious bars elevated our already terrific store of homemade food items we've been enjoying. 

Three Beautiful Things 04-19-2026: Breakfast at Sam's with T. Turner and Alex, Pork Loin Family Dinner, Carol and Paul Create and Unforgettable Day

 1. Terry Turner and his friend Alex had been in Missoula and on some nearby waterways for Trout Unlimited meetings and some fishing. They left Missoula this morning and the three of us met at Sam's here in Kellogg for breakfast. It was fun talking about stuff like fish habitat protection, college basketball and football, and other major topics. 

2. Christy hosted tonight's family dinner and built our menu around a marinated pork loin she roasted accompanied by homemade applesauce. Christy also fixed garlic roasted potatoes and Carol contributed fried corn and Debbie made a delicious endive salad. We started our dinner with a delicious bread with olives baked in it and flourless crackers, both enhanced by pesto or a garlic spread. For dessert, Christy baked a no sugar applesauce cake with bourbon raisins. 

3. When Debbie and I arrived at Christy's, I started right in asking Carol and Paul questions about their trip to Spokane on Saturday with three of the students they work with. 

I listened to what Carol and Paul had to say and thought again and again how fortunate these three students were on Saturday. 

I have to believe they'll never forget this day and as they grow older will realize what generous and imaginative teachers Carol and Paul are. 

Carol and Paul took them to the Museum of Arts and Culture in Spokane primarily to see an exhibition entitled, "Brick by Brick: We Built This City". Here's the deal: local My Own Creation builders brought seven Spokane landmarks to life by creating detailed scale replicas of them using LEGO bricks. On display are replicas of the Spokesman-Review tower, Davenport Hotel, the Great Northern Clock and Radio Flyer Wagon from Riverfront Park, Spokane Falls along with the Monroe Street Bridge and the Washington Water Works Building, the Spokane County Courthouse, the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, and the Campbell House. 

Each student "adopted" one of the LEGO creations as their own to learn more about and Carol and Paul took the students to the actual places they "adopted": they visited the Spokane Falls, the Davenport Hotel, and St. John's Cathedral. 

At the museum, the students also got to view an exhibition entitled, "James Lavadour: Land of Origin", a five-decade retrospective of this artists' paintings exploring his deep connection with Eastern Oregon landscapes. 

I think they also peeked in on "The Davenport Legacy", an exhibition dedicated to the history of the Davenport Hotel. 

And where did Paul and Carol take their students for lunch? The Old Spaghetti Factory, yet another unforgettable way to acquaint these youngsters with more Spokane history! This longtime popular restaurant was founded in 1969. 

On a personal note, I'll always remember The Old Spaghetti Factory as the restaurant four of us went to after watching All the President's Men in 1976, my senior year at Whitworth, and discussed the movie over plates of pasta and glasses of affordable wine. A great memory! 

Ah, what the heck -- one more personal note. 

It can't hurt! 

Carol, Paul, and their students left Spokane close to the time Debbie and I arrived there.

I enjoy the idea that all seven of us had a most memorable time in Spokane on April 18th. 

If you read the blog post I put up yesterday, you know that Debbie and I loved the Get Lit/Northwest Passages event we attended at The Bing and I think, at some level, it will live with us for a long time.