I Saw You

I SAW YOU

DON'T LOSE YOURSELF: I knew a guy in college//he used to be a writer//He was dealing with anxiety even then//We stayed up late watching Adult Swim//Nothing lasts forever//I heard you are going through a dark time//your name will not be mentioned//This goes to anyone who catches//a glint of themselves in this reflection//Don't lose yourself//You are not lost

DANGER DAZE: I'm kicking myself for not talking to you in person, but I was hoping you'd do a second song. Your energy was fantastic, keep it up! Shine your light, on and off the stage. I hope you come out again next month! -GMB

RE: B&N KILTEDHELLDIVER: The email you included does not work. Check for typos. Hope you got a reply. [email protected]

CHEERS

YOU ARE AMAZING: Sorry Grandma couldn't stay up to meet your first flight, but so glad you came to stay! No trying on pants or stealing toilet paper, but I love that with no schedule or plan, we still make MEMORIOS!! Come back any time - you are always welcome and are stuck being part of this family!

TO THE INLANDER: Thanks so much for having the "I Saw You" section of the Inlander. It is pretty much the only public forum in the greater Spokane region to express thoughts on a casual but broad basis that I am aware of. As such, I hope the Inlander continues well into the future.

SPOKANE'S MAGNIFICENT IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY: Cheers to Spokane's immigrant community. You represent many cultures adding valuable diversity to the Inland Northwest. Many U.S. born members of our community appreciate you and what you add to our city. You are hardworking, kind and peaceful people. Wishing you success as you navigate these troubling times. Many of us love you and are grateful for your presence in this imperfect city and country.

RESPECTFUL ACT AT GREENWOOD: To the young man who spent a good two hours on Father's Day, June 15th, meticulously cleaning Sonora Smart Dodd's memorial site at Greenwood Memorial Park, thank you. I drove by and saw you scrubbing away grime and overgrown moss, all while skillfully dodging the sprinkler that seemed determined to douse your efforts every two minutes. After you left, I went and checked it out, and it looked absolutely amazing! Your dedication to honoring her was truly remarkable, and it was clear you were performing an act of thoughtful respect. Your effort on Father's Day did not go unnoticed. You brightened a corner of Spokane and honored a significant figure in a beautiful way. Well done!

JEERS

RUINING THE NIGHT ONE BACKFIRE AT A TIME: I saw you ...not just one of you, but all of you, roaring down the street like you're allergic to peace and quiet. You've chopped up your exhaust to sound like a jackhammer filled with fireworks and for what? So your car can make gunshot noises while you do 60 in a 25? You're not rebels. You're not cool. You're just loud, annoying, and one pothole away from a GoFundMe for your suspension. And to the City of Spokane ...where are you? The rest of us are trying to live like normal human beings. But every night it's the same circus: screeching tires, popping exhausts, engines howling like a dying lawn mower. You've got noise ordinances, you've got cops, maybe use them? Some of us have jobs. Some of us have kids. All of us have ears. Start ticketing. Start towing. Start pretending you give a damn. Because this isn't a city at night ...it's a joke with no punchline, and we're the ones losing sleep over it.

FOR ALL: We did not grow up as Americans pledging freedom and justice for all, EACH MORNING, to not mean it for ALL. Watching parents ripped from their kids on the streets, at graduations, and courthouses accross America has collectively horrified the majority who haven't been gaslighted into the current narrarive that says these people are criminals, deserve this, and that somehow justice is happening. We are a country made by immigrants, we are All immigrants! Exhale and remember, the majority of us care deeply about truth, kindness, and justice for all. Those who want you to feel hopeless and disempowered, (no pledges for others' rights?) are the real losers for humanity. We don't need to change the words to the pledge, freedom will forever be a pure idea, it occurs spontaneously and without instruction, just like its name.

STILL GIVING ZERO HOOTS... I have to commend the submission beginning "I DON'T GIVE A HOOT..." from the June pride issue. During a recent visit to Spokane, I was crushingly disappointed to find the scourge of excessive car exhaust/engine noise had developed there, very much the way it has in Las Vegas. Besides the public safety matter of reckless driving, a regular occurrence here, this is absolutely a quality of life issue. And I agree completely with the previous writer, it is SHAMEFUL how law enforcement and city managers have ignored this obvious problem. To both of our cities, do better.

BOOK OF MORMON MORON: So, I get it. It's a big crowd of people and you want to get home or to your hotel. But you know what you do not have the right to do? Push a disabled man damn near to the ground because you can't just wait or say excuse me. I'm paralyzed on one side of my body. I walk with a cane, and yes, I am a young person so people assume that I can't be disabled. But you almost ran me over, you are an able-bodied man. Instead of using your abilities to find a safe route around or having a single ounce of patience, you pushed your way through and gave me an arrogant smirk when you almost mowed me down. Everyone finds out eventually in their lives what being disabled is like. May you be treated as harshly when you reach that level. It's not just you that is the problem, it's everyone that sees (or refuses to see) a disabled person and doesn't care about being careful. I used to be an abled person. Now I am realizing just how awful society treats the disabled. Empathy goes a long way folks, it's a matter of time before you learn the harsh lesson I did.

SPOKANE IS UNHEALTHY: As I was trying to watch Jeopardy the other night, the local news cut in with a "breaking news" update. I thought it must have been terribly important but then quickly did a channel check of the other local affiliates and saw that neither one had "breaking news." Instead, they were showing game 3 of the NBA finals (much better viewing) and an episode of a game show (also much more interesting). However, during the commercials, I switched back to the "breaking news" of local protests. One of the biggest take aways I had by watching that was what an unhealthy city Spokane seems to be. Everyone is so incredibly over weight in Spokane. It's actually quite amazing because Bloomsday is in Spokane as well as Hoop fest. Yet, the images on tv often just show some of the most unhealthy people ever. Spokane: Near nature. Near unhealthy people.

LICENSE TABS: If people can't pay for license tabs, it's okay. In Spokane, a "law" is just an acronym for "let's all weed." It just means that if you can't afford tabs because of other expenses like weed, that's fine. Just pay for what you want, and let the rest take care of itself. The police are busy pushing drug addicts off the streets downtown and arresting slobs. So, enjoy man. Just enjoy. Spokane is a GREAT city. Don't even license your car unless you want. They don't do anything about it. Lots of temp plates on cars for years. No biggie. Just weed.

MAYBE 5% So was completely uniformed that it was "Street Communist Day" Saturday in Riverfront Park. My Republican dog and I (she's a Very Responsible Lakeland Terrier) went for our afternoon walk. The SC were out in force. I'd bet real money that most of them couldn't articulate what they think our Great President is doing that they object to--OTHER than what they are fed by publications like this one? Let alone support this country through annual tax payments (Thus the 5% that looks like they do pay taxes) by working. FEW looked as though they could get a job at a coffee stand. Once again, my point? Why are those that actually pay for this country have to pay for those that don't? Clearly these are Inlander type readers so maybe YOU (Inlander) can tell us!

I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND: When President Trump said he was going to throw out the illegal "Criminals," I didn't know it included the hairdresser my wife goes to or the nice grocery store lady. Or my mechanic. The boy Hector that helped us get to State last year. Didn't understand about the ranch hands or ... the people I worshipped with at church. This is tearing my community and the towns that support my community apart! Grandpa will be rolling in his grave, but I have to vote for the other party next election. Besides, Grandma would be rolling in her grave if I didn't do the right thing. I just didn't understand.

ENFORCEMENT PLEASE: Discussion or shaming will not change lawlessness. It's not "Spokane has the WORST drivers," it's "Spokane has no traffic enforcement" and it's obvious. The revenue for fixing potholes just raced down our single block at 45 mph, a tricked-out speedster followed by a $100,000 truck with oversized dual tires and no mudflaps. They could afford the fines. No matter it's Sunday, Father's Day, after hours or early morning, making people nervous and angry with street racing heard for miles. It's only getting worse with no enforcement. SPD needn't target older folks and vehicles with out of date tabs driving responsibly, there's plenty of other targets. The new American Dream; be entitled, be wealthy and powerful enough to be above the laws, and be a law snubbing criminal who gets away with it. Perhaps the SPD respects and admires with nostalgia these traditional childish behaviors. The real losers here are the compliant citizens who pay increasing fees, taxes and prices for diminishing services. ♦