Uncle Norm

We sat, elbow to elbow, in the barroom of the finest resort Coeur d' Alene, Idaho has to offer. My Pops, Uncle Norm, me. Uncle Norm is a direct portal to a time when I didn't exist, a time of the beginnings of the family I come from. He is a direct link to my grandparents. I am only learning of his perspective as their son in law. This trip to the Idaho panhandle was the third time I have seen him, the first time since the mid 1980s. Now, I sat with him as a grown man and clink our glasses together at the watering hole. I was able to ask him questions. His perspective of the roots of the family, the interactions between siblings and their significant others who later became Aunts and Uncles to me, is a treasure chest. Needless to say, the time spent talking of the World War II era and talks of times that molded a lot of kinfolk as the bar keep filled our glasses, was a blessing. I think J&B was the choice from the shelf at the Coeur d' Alene Resort. The talks did not always pertain to family affiliations but also to geography, meteorology, history, site seeing, smoked brisket, silver mining... A complete cornucopia of discussion almost too much for me to intake at once. I needed a pen and a paper, a stereo, a taper, a nice big plate of salmon to sweep all of these smoked scraps of ideas between my ears. Out here in the panhandle of Idaho, Uncle Norm maintains his own style. Aged into his eighties, he is sharp as a tack.

Plus, to attend this time with my parents and one of my beautiful daughters was an added layer of the happiness. Layers and generations represented. Nostalgic feelings for family were felt through this rekindled relationship. Thus, providing a deeper love and connection to family that I am blessed to have and blessed to share the memories of. Rest in Peace to the loved ones of generations and decades past. Hearing stories of the past, even though I was not born yet, puts me there. I feel like I was there, they new me before I was born. Like a feeling of infinity, like a feeling of roots buried deep in the ground, connecting to everything and all memories are blurred into a giant dream. Dreams that I consistently have that consider times when I did not exist. Opening my mind for more, opening my mind to infinity and beyond.

Places we visited on the Uncle Norm driving tour of the Idaho panhandle:

(The ensuing pictures reveal the beauty of the above content. Also, I enjoy showcasing the hard part in my hair as carved by my awesome bro in law, Ricki. He made me look good for this trip. Thank you, Bro.)

1. Post Falls

2. Sandpoint

3. Coeur d' Alene

4. Cataldo Mission (the grounds were laced with droppings of the mighty Elk)

5. Farragut State Park on Lake Pend Oreille