Best years are yet to be lived

Last week, I attended the Senior Academic Awards and Recognition Program at Coeur d’Alene High School, my alma mater. I was there representing the Kootenai Electric Trust Board to present one of a dozen $2,000 scholarships, made possible by KEC’s Operation Round-Up program, to area students. Congratulations to CHS recipient Abigail Kendall.

I loved being in a room filled with such exceptional young people, on the cusp of launching into their next phase of life. Surrounded by family, friends and educators, it’s a time of celebration. I wanted to tell them not to worry, no matter what some say, these aren’t the best years of their life. They’re special years, but just wait until you’re viewing the world from decades in the future. There are many “best years” to come, high school is just a snapshot.

By the same token, your classmates are part of your story, part of your shared experience and very much a part of who you are. My high school classmate (CHS ’70), Dr. Mary Sanderson, made this observation for graduating seniors …

“Look around this room, across the aisle, in front of you, behind you, next to you. Be grateful for these people because this group, these friends, and foes, will be the ones you meet on the street to share a memory, will see at church, at reunions, on Facebook (or whatever social media becomes 30 years from now) and they are your people ... the ones who ground you and remind you of your roots ... nothing grows strong without healthy roots.”

Congratulations Class of 2026!

• • •

Most people have a love/hate feeling about reuniting a decade or three or four after you’ve said goodbye at graduation time. As someone who’s attended my 10th, 20th, 30th, 40th, 45th and 51st, here’s my perspective. The 10th and 20th are still a little high school-ish with people wanting their classmates to see them as they were or an improved version of their high school selves. By the 30th and beyond most are empty nesters and decidedly more comfortable in their own skin. A bonus if you attend your reunions is meeting and getting to know people you went to school with but maybe didn’t get to know well or at all.

What I know without a doubt is that Coeur d’Alene High School Class of ‘70 are my people, reminding me of my roots and sharing a history. I’m sure I didn’t really appreciate the value of those friendships at our 10th reunion or 20th.

So, my advice to graduates is to make a vow to attend your reunions, whether you still live in town or life takes you out of the area. Stay connected and make new connections with old friends.

These are your people.

• • •

For vintage Vikings who attended Coeur d’Alene High School in 1976 or earlier, the annual All Class Golden Reunion 2026 is coming Saturday, Sept. 19, from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds. CHS Class of 1971 is hosting for all who’ve been 50 or more years out of high school.

Don’t wait to be contacted, jump on in and contact [email protected] for more info.

Registration forms are available for download on the CHS All Class Reunion 2026 Facebook page, too.

• • •

Post Script: To the parents whose graduating seniors are their youngest child ... it’s not an empty nest until they’ve taken all of their belongings out of the basement.

• • •

Happy Main Street birthdays today to Devin Weeks, JoAnn Nelson, Mitch Heid, Scott Osburn, Matthew Hutchinson, Kathy Larson, Sharon Timmons Susan Mensching and Matt Boseth. Tomorrow, Natalie Wyant, Lynsie Odd, Jay Sadler, Kirk Dady and Jessica Downs Anundson take another trip around the sun. On Friday, Alec Steele, Evelyn Bevacqua Howe, Harold Appleby, Jr., Joel Semanko, Helen Elder, Dale Rounsville, Ron Hodge and JaNee Newby will celebrate. On Saturday, Wendy English, Don Bradway, Dallas Dixon, DeDe Tondee and Kim Normand put on their party hats. Happy Birthday on Sunday to my better half and best friend Bert Thoreson along with John Hough, Brad Corkill and Susan Lewis. On Monday, Tammy Rickard, Courtney Everson, Dustin Pilcher, Jaymie Starr, Emma Hoffman and Dave Haugen blow out the candles. On June 9, Carla Allert, Dave Corbeill, Greg Washington, Paul Deckon, James Hart, Don Fisher and Darrell Hull do the birthday dance.

• • •

Kerri Rankin Thoreson is a member of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists and a former publisher/editor with the Hagadone Newspaper division. Main Street appears every Wednesday in The Press. Kerri can be reached on Facebook or via email at [email protected].