Hi. I’m Marla. Gimme a minute to talk to you about a personal tradition.
Gearing up for the bicentennial, in 1975, store shelves were jam-packed with products colored to reflect and honor old glory. In 1975 I was still in high school, and wore as much of the colors of the flag as I could muster. My wardrobe essential was a leather purse, dyed red and blue stripes with white stars. It was trendy. Ok, I thought it was.
Years later, an old friend from my high school days teased me about that purse. I looked for and found it buried in the bottom of a forgotten box at my parent’s house.
Guess what she got for her very next birthday?
Years later, my friend gave the purse back to me as a wedding gift. Shortly after that, she received it as a housewarming gift. I got it back as a baby gift for my daughter, and she got it back when her daughter was born. It’s been many years since that last passing of the gift.
This year, when the purse arrived in the mail, I’ll admit I got a little choked up.
There’s been a whole lot of history since this purse first made its way into my life. Both of us have lost both our parents, our daughters are grown, and hopefully, we have much better style since then.
Hi, I’m Marla. Gimme a Minute. I wanna talk to you about Shari Matthews. We quickly approach the last few hours of her being the morning show co-host of Dave and Shari in the Morning on KAFE radio…. It’s a good thing. I can’t just think of why at this very moment. I’ll tell you what I’ll miss when she’s gone…adorable grandchild stories, worries concerning her throat afflictions, but mostly I’ll miss her off-air vocabulary. I’m just about through the five stages of grief. When I first got the news she was leaving, I was immediately in denial that she would ever find a community as connected and connecting as this one. I quickly transitioned to anger, knowing we’ll never find a replacement with such great pen flinging aim. I’ve tried bargaining, but no amount of free coffee, beer or gym memberships will keep her here. Finally, and very recently, I’ve come to accept the fact that she’s got to go and rejoin her sweetheart. I have hope that since she still has family members here in Whatcom County, there is potential for the opportunity to have a Bellebrity sighting…. I know this community will step up and take care of each other in her place and stead, and that the youth group and homeless programs she has worked so hard to develop will continue and kept viable in her honor. Oh wait, I know why it’s a good thing she is leaving Whatcom County and the Pacific Northwest. More Ducks will live to see another day. Thanks for everything Shari. See ya.
Marla's Gimme a Minute 