The Slice The Story Behind The Sirens
Lana Myers remembers April 11, 1961. That was the day Spokane’s 39 Civil Defense sirens were accidentally sounded at noon on Tuesday instead of the usual Wednesday.
Myers had graduated from Rogers High School in 1960 and was working for a North Side dentist. She still lived with her parents. “I always walked home for lunch,” she wrote. “On this day, I ran hysterically to see why the siren was going off. My mother was shocked that I was so upset until she realized it was a Tuesday and not Wednesday.
“At the same time, my sisters called home to find out why the siren was going off. Since our Dad worked in the fire alarm center where this siren is set off, my mother promptly called to see what was happening. Our embarrassed father said ‘I got my days mixed up.’
“From that day on, there was a big sign posted over the switch that said ‘This is not Wednesday.’ “
And a favorite family story had been born.
Conversation openings that make us look for an escape hatch: 1. “I seldom watch TV but….”
2. “If I put my house on the market….”
3. “When I was in Seattle….”
4. “Everybody around here….”
5. “Rick Miller said….”
Helping: “Dr. Kim Johnstone of Chewelah is the least arrogant doctor,” wrote Florence Lee. ” My 91-year-old father lives with us and is hard of hearing, especially over the phone. Dr. Johnstone called our home to discuss something with my husband and the only one home was my father. He told Dr. Johnstone he didn’t know where my husband was but did she know where he could find the toilet paper. Dr. Johnstone told him ‘No’ but said she would find out for him. So she called me at work so I could call my father.”
Remind us to buy a sidewalk lemonade in this neighborhood this summer: “The kids on our North Side block (on East Bismark) are great,” wrote a couple named Julie and Jerry. “After moving into our new house, the neighborhood kids came over inquiring about kids. They were a little disappointed. But an hour or so later, they came back with homemade ‘Welcome to the neighborhood’ cards and drawings (seven in all) that are now proudly displayed on our refrigerator.”
Today’s Slice question: Who has the most moronic laugh in the Spokane area?
, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Drawing
MEMO: The Slice appears Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Write The Slice at P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210; call (509) 459-5470; fax (509) 459-5098. One of our all-time favorite reader-submitted Slice items featured a little girl who, back in 1995, kept referring to the special Sunday in May as “St. Mother’s Day.”