Three Beautiful Things 08-20-2025: Kellogg Connection at Kootenai, My (Now) Regular Wednesday Drive, A Terrific Talk with Debbie

1. I was up and at 'em first thing this morning. Today was a blood draw day at Kootenai Health.  Gibbs was slow to go outside to do his morning business. So that I could get on my horse and head out, I finally put him on his leash and walked him out, he took care of things, and I was off to CdA. 

Today, the phlebotomist who drew my blood was a pro I've worked with three or four times before. She's really good. Well, today she asked me to confirm that I was from Kellogg. After my confirmation, she told me she was, too. She graduated from Kellogg High about six years ago, lived not far from us in the Mullan St. cul-de-sac, and now lives up Moon Gulch. 

It was fun to have her come forward with this connection between us. 

2. After the blood draw, I headed west to Pines Road and then went south and east to Rockford, WA where I hoped to eat breakfast at the Harvest Moon Restaurant. I pulled up to the Harvest Moon only to discover that it doesn't serve breakfast on Wednesday. Its breakfast days are Friday through Monday.

No problem. 

I knew that less than ten miles away I could enjoy a tasty breakfast at the Red Tail at the CdA Casino and so I settled into a booth there and enjoyed biscuits and gravy with scrambled eggs. 

Then, as I enjoy doing on Wednesdays, I played machines for a short while, didn't build up any positive momentum, shrugged, as if to say, "So she goes", and rocketed back to Kellogg, feeling energized by my blood draw conversation, driving in the pine tree wheat fields beauty of eastern Washington and North Idaho, and by having breakfast and a little fun at the casino. 

3. First Debbie sent me pictures from the Water's End Brewery in Lake Ridge, VA. She ordered a three beer flight and I don't know how those beers tasted, but they were gorgeous to look at. 

Before long, Debbie called me.

We talked for nearly an hour about the last two months she's spent with family, a time of enjoyment and intense conversation. 

She's very happy, and so am I, that we live a life that affords her the time to be with family who live far away for such an extended time and that there's no pressure for her to return at any specific time. 

I was also happy to report that Copper and I are doing very well and that Debbie's beloved Gibbs is very happy and has been spending increased amounts of contented time on my lap.